Choti Diwali 2026: Naraka Chaturdashi

Choti Diwali — also called Naraka Chaturdashi and Roop Chaturdashi — falls on Saturday, November 7, 2026. It is the second day of the five-day Diwali festival, the day before the main Diwali night.

What Is Choti Diwali?

Choti Diwali commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. The story is one of light defeating darkness: Krishna freed thousands of captives and ended Narakasura’s tyranny, and the lamps lit on this day celebrate that liberation.

The rituals of the day are simple and at home:

• Early morning oil bath — an oil massage and bath before sunrise, believed to wash away sins and bring health and beauty (this is why the day is also called Roop Chaturdashi, the day of beauty)
• Smaller clay lamps — families light diyas around the home, a warm-up for the full blaze of light on Diwali night itself
• Preparing the home — finishing the cleaning and decorating so everything is ready for Lakshmi Puja the next evening

Diwali Events Today: Saturday, November 7

Choti Diwali is the biggest event day of the weekend around Westchester and New York City:

• Diwali at the Westchester Children’s Museum — 10:30 AM–4:00 PM, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye. A family Diwali day with hands-on activities for kids, right here in Westchester. Details
• Diwali Lights Up Asia Society — 1:00–4:00 PM, 725 Park Avenue, Manhattan. Music and dance performances, storytelling, a puppet Ramleela, and hands-on arts and crafts with The Culture Tree. Details
• Edison Diwali Festival — 5:00–9:00 PM, Papaianni Park, Edison, NJ. A large free outdoor mela — food, performances, and a crowd in the thousands. Details
• Bollywood Diwali Nights at Harbor NYC — 10:30 PM, 621 W 46th Street, Manhattan. A 21+ Diwali party with Bollywood and Punjabi music. Tickets

And tomorrow is the main day: Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, November 8, with celebrations at the Bhakti Center in Manhattan and BAPS in Flushing — fireworks included.

Getting There: Rides to Every Diwali Event

Going from a daytime family event in Rye to an evening mela in Edison or a party in Manhattan? Dia Limo Service runs flat-rate, no-surge rides across Westchester and New York City, 24/7. See our flat-rate pricing and airport taxi service for family flying in, or book on WhatsApp: 914-292-4800.

Choti Diwali FAQ

When is Choti Diwali in 2026?
Saturday, November 7, 2026 — the second day of Diwali, the day before the main Lakshmi Puja.

What is Choti Diwali also called?
Naraka Chaturdashi, for Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, and Roop Chaturdashi, for the beautifying oil bath.

Why do people take an oil bath on Choti Diwali?
The early morning oil bath is a ritual of cleansing — it is believed to wash away sins and bring health and radiance.

What is the difference between Choti Diwali and Diwali?
Choti Diwali is the smaller eve of the festival, marked with oil baths and a few diyas. Diwali itself, the next day, is the main night of Lakshmi Puja, with the whole house lit up.

Happy Choti Diwali from Dia Limo Service. 🪔