World news – IN – Narak Chaturdashi 2020: Date, time and significance of Chhoti Diwali also known as Bhoot Chaturdashi in Bengal – India News , Firstposten

On Narak Chaturdashi, 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

Between Dhanteras and Diwali falls the festival of Narak Chaturdashi Popularly known as Chhoti Diwali, the festival of Narak Chaturdashi is usually celebrated a day ahead of Diwali However, this year, Narak Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali is falling on the same day as Diwali, ie, 14 November

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

Abhyang Snan Muhurat on Naraka Chaturdashi is from 431 am to 549 pm, according to Drikpanchang

The festival of Narak Chaturdashi derives its name from the demon Narakasura The festival marks the end of the demon at the hands of Lord Krishna’s consort Sathyabhama

Narakasura was the son of Bhudevi and Lord Varaha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) However, he was greedy and unjust, creating destruction and devastation across the worlds He knew that as per Lord Brahma’s boon, none but his mother Bhudevi could kill him

Having grown complacent, he even attacked Lord Krishna However, the Blue God’s consort Sathyabhama, who was an incarnation of Bhudevi retaliated and killed Narakasura

However, before his death, Narakasura pleaded to Sathyabhama to grant him a boon He wanted to be immortal in the memories of people and hence wanted them to celebrate his death by the lighting of lamps Thus people light lamps on Narak Chaturdashi, celebrating the death of Narakasura

Another legend says that it was Lord Krishna who killed the demon Narakasur who kept 16,000 girls hostage It is believed that the rescued girls were all afraid of embarrassment and societal shunning and thus Krishna and his wife decided that Lord Krishna will marry all of them and the world will know them as his wives

On the occasion of Chhoti Diwali, people clean their houses and decorate them elaborately Some believe that wiping out all dirt and garbage from their home on that day rids the house of evil

Interestingly in Bengal, Narak Chaturdashi is also known as Bhoot Chaturdashi and is dedicated to spirits It is celebrated a day prior to Kali Puja Much like Halloween, Bhoot Chaturdashi is the 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

It is the day when 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

Updated Date:

November 12, 2020 21:31:02 IST

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Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, but some celebrate the festival to honour the return of Pandavas after 12 years of vanvas

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Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi, Dhanteras, Wish, Hinduism