Naraka Chaturdashi 2020: Significance, muhurat, Bhoot Chaturdashi timings

Naraka Chaturdashi or Bhoot Chaturdashi is usually celebrated a day ahead of Diwali, i.e. Chhoti Diwali. The festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi (14th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Kartik. It is believed that the demon Narakasura was killed on this day by Lord Krishna, Satyabhama and Goddess Kali.

People celebrate this day to rid themselves of evil, negativities, laziness, and evil. It signifies riddance from everything negative and things that stop us from walking the right path.

One of the most important aspects of Narak Chaturdashi is Abhyang Snan. It is believed that people who do Abhyang Snan on this day can avoid going to the underworld. Abhyang Snan on Narak Chaturdashi is done a day before or on the same day as Lakshmi Puja. It is done during moonrise but before sunrise while Chaturdashi Tithi is prevailing.

In Bengal, this day is celebrated a day Bhoot Chaturdashi, a day prior to Kali Puja. On this day, it is believed that the veil between the tangential world and the afterlife becomes thin and ghosts and spirits are able to freely roam about on Earth. Bengalis light 14 earthen lamps at the doorways of their houses to guide the spirits of 14 generations of their forefathers and ward off evil spirits. They also eat 14 types of green ‘saags’.

Abhyang Snan Muhurat on Naraka Chaturdashi is from 4.31 am to 5.49 pm, according to Drikpanchang.

Chaturdashi Tithi begins: 5.59 pm on November 13

Chaturdashi Tithi ends: 2.17 pm on November 14