Naraka Chaturdashi 2024: Story, Celebration & Rituals

Naraka Chaturdashi is one of the festivals of Diwali, it is celebrated a day before the main Diwali and a day after Dhanteras, Tuesday 6^th of November 2018. It falls on the 14^th day of the month of Ashwin. It is considered to be celebrated to eliminate the idleness and evil from our lives.

Rituals Followed on this day:

The most important ritual of the Naraka Chaturdashi is, that people wake up early in the morning before sunrise, apply ubtan made up of til, oil, herbs, and flowers as well as some crucial elements on their body and take a holy bath or Abhyanga Snan. It is considered that someone who fails to do this ritual on this special occasion goes to hell. The day is also popular as Kali Chaudas, Choti Diwali, Roop Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas.

Best muhurta for Abhyanga Snan: 04:58 to 06:39 minutes.

The time duration is 1 hour 41 mins.

Why Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated:

This festival is celebrated every year by performing puja of the goddess Kali who had killed the demon named Narakasura. That’s why the day is known as Narak-Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas as well. People offer puja to eliminate their laziness and wickedness from their lives as well as bring the real light into their lives.

The things required for Pooja are oil, flowers, agarbatti, camphor, Diya, sweets, coconut, aarti thali, etc. People believe that washing their heads and applying kajal to their eyes will keep them away from all the bad sights, the persons related to the tantra consider that practising their mantras on this day would increase their tantra power.

It is also considered that the day is celebrated as the Hindu God Lord Krishna got victory over the demon Naraksura. People wake up early in the morning and apply aromatic oil throughout their bodies before bathing. Then they wear new clothes after bathing offer puja and enjoy some firecrackers in the evening with their family.

The story behind this festival:

According to one of the ancient histories of the past, there was a king, Ranti Deva. He was a very spiritual and clever man. He has always involved himself in the religious works and services of mankind. One day, the death of god, Yama, had come to him to get the soul of a king. The king asked Yama if I had never done bad work and sinned all over my life. Why did you come to get hell, Yama answered that a long ago you had returned a hungry priest from your door. That’s why I am here to get you to hell.

The king prayed to Yama to get one year of life more. Yama granted him one year’s life more, and the king met with the saints and told his story to them. They suggested he keep fast at Narak Chaturdashi and offer food to the Priests as well as say sorry to them for their past mistakes. In this way, you can get relief from your past sins.

From that day, Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated to become free from all sins as well as keep away self from going to hell.

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