Naraka Chaturdashi, widely celebrated as Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, or Kali Chaudas, falls on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the waning fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the lunar month of Kartika. It precedes the grand Diwali night of Lakshmi Puja.
The festival marks the historic victory of Lord Krishna and his consort Satyabhama over the tyrannical demon king Narakasura, liberating sixteen thousand captive maidens and restoring justice. In western and southern traditions, it also honors the day Lord Krishna cleansed the stains of battle with fragrant herbal oils.
A central ritual on this day is the Abhyanga Snan—an auspicious pre-dawn oil bath taken during the Arunodaya period before sunrise, using sesame oil and herbal paste (ubtan) to wash away impurities and fatigue. Households illuminate fourteen clay diyas at dusk to ward off negativity and honor Yama, the guardian of righteousness.