Naraka Chaturdashi is the first day of Deepavali in Karnataka. The evening before is Neeru Tumbuva Habba, "the festival of filling water": the bathing vessels are scrubbed, filled, and hung with marigolds. Before dawn everyone has oil put on the head by an elder and bathes in hot water. New clothes follow, then crackers in the half-dark, and a breakfast that includes something sweet.
The story
Krishna killed Narakasura before sunrise on this day, and the oil bath recalls the one he took afterwards.
In Chikkamagaluru district, tens of thousands climb the steep hill of Deviramma barefoot through the night to reach her shrine at dawn, a pilgrimage made only on this day.
How the morning goes
- Neeru tumbuvuduThe water is filled and worshipped the previous evening.
- AbhyanjanaThe oil bath before sunrise.
- AratiWomen wave a lamp before the men of the house after the bath.
- PatakiThe first crackers of the festival.
Why this date
Naraka Chaturdashi is the Chaturdashi of the dark half of Ashvayuja, on the day it is present before dawn.
Naraka Chaturdashi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Thursday |
More Kannada festivals
29 OctoberDeepavaliದೀಪಾವಳಿ
9 OctoberVijayadashamiವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ
14 NovemberKartika Hunnimeಕಾರ್ತಿಕ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
8 OctoberMahanavami and Ayudha Pujaಮಹಾನವಮಿ · ಆಯುಧ ಪೂಜೆ
7 OctoberDurgashtamiದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಮಿ
4 DecemberSubrahmanya Shashthiಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಷಷ್ಠಿ
Where to see Naraka Chaturdashi
In Karnataka
- Sri Krishna Matha, UdupiKarnatakaThe oil bath is a temple ceremony, with the swamis taking part.
- Deviramma Betta, ChikkamagaluruKarnatakaThe barefoot climb to the hill goddess on this one morning.
- GokarnaKarnatakaA dawn bath in the sea before the temple.
Across India
- PanajiGoaEffigies of Narakasura are burned before dawn.
- ChennaiTamil NaduThe Tamil Deepavali falls on this same morning.
- TirumalaAndhra PradeshThe Deepavali Asthanam is held the next day.