Krishna's victory over Narakasura; the pre-dawn ritual bath.
Sunday, 8 November 2026·Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi·Mumbai, Maharashtra
Ritual oil bath to cleanse body and mind before Diwali.
Midnight worship of Goddess Kali.
Lighting lamps and small evening puja.
General auspicious tasks and preparations for Lakshmi Puja.
The second day of Diwali, also called Chhoti Diwali or Roop Chaudas. Its signature ritual is the Abhyanga Snan - a pre-dawn bath with oil and ubtan that is said to cleanse sin and confer beauty, standing in for a bath in the sacred Ganga.
The pre-dawn Abhyanga Snan symbolises washing away impurity and ego before the light of Diwali; the day's lamps recall the freeing of the captives and the triumph of good over evil.
To celebrate Krishna's victory over Narakasura, to purify body and mind before Lakshmi Puja, and (regionally) to worship Kali and Hanuman.
On this day Lord Krishna, with Satyabhama, slew the demon Narakasura and freed the sixteen thousand captives he had imprisoned. Dying, Narakasura begged that his death be remembered as a day of light and colour rather than mourning - hence the lamps and the festive pre-dawn bath.
A ritual bath taken before sunrise after massaging the body with warm oil and ubtan; it is believed to confer the merit of bathing in the Ganga.
It is the day before the main Lakshmi Puja Diwali in the north and west; in South India this day is itself the principal Deepavali.
In eastern India the midnight of this Chaturdashi is dedicated to Goddess Kali rather than Lakshmi.