Chhoti Diwali is a part of five-day long Hindu festival, Diwali. It is celebrated one day before Diwali. It is also very auspicious for Hindu devotees.

Other Names of Chhoti Diwali:

Chhoti Diwali is also known as Narak Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas, Roop Chaudas,  Naraka Nivaran Chaturdashi and Bhoot Chaturdashi. This festival falls on Chaturdashi (14th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Shalivahan Shaka Hindu calendar month of Ashwin.

Chhoti Diwali is the second day of the five-day-long festival of Deepavali.

Legends Behind Chhoti Diwali:

There are many legends behind the celebration of Diwali:

1. Narak Chaturdashi:

According to Indian Mythology, a demon named Narakasur was killed by Krishna, Satyabhama and Maa Kali.

Narakasura was the son of Bhudevi and Lord Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu. He worshipped Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma blessed him with a boon.  As per the boon, no other than his mother, Bhudevi, could kill him. He knew that nobody other than his mother can kill him. So, he believed that he was immortal.

He grew greedy and unfair. He turned devastative and complacent. He believed that the boon would guard him against death.

Subsequently, he attacked Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna’s associate, Satyabhama, an incarnation of Bhudevi, retaliated with much vigour and courage. She killed Narakasura and sanctified Brahma’s boon.

However, before breathing his last, Narakasura pleaded to Satyabhama. He sought her blessings and wished for a boon. He expressed his desire to remain immortal in the memories of people. Furthermore, he wished people to celebrate his death by lighting deeps (lamps). Henceforth, people celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi.

 

2. Kali Chaudas:

Chhoti Diwali is also called ‘Kali Chaudas’. Here Kali is refered to dark (eternal) and Chaudas means fourteenth. This festival is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark half of Hindu month Ashwin. Some scholars consider the beginning of the Hindu month from Amavasya. Some other scholars observe the start of the month from Purnima and according to them, kali chaudas, the same day, falls in the Hindu month Kartik.

In Bengal, Kali Puja is also called Dipanwita Puja or Deepavali. Kali Puja or Shyama Puja is

not only held in the temple of Goddess Kali but also, a lot of people carry out the puja at their houses too.

Kali Chaudas is the day allotted to the worship of Mahakali or Shakti .and is believed that on this day Kali killed the demon Narakasura. Hence, it is also referred to as Naraka-Chaturdashi. Kali Chaudas is day to abolish laziness and evil which create hell in our life. It is the to shine light on life.

How Chhoti Diwali is Celebrated:

On chhoti Diwali, the puja is performed with oil, flowers and sandalwood. Coconuts are also offered to Lord Hanuman. Prasada, of sesame seed, jaggery and poha (rice flakes) with ghee and sugar, is prepared.

As the five-day long festival Diwali is also celebrated as a harvest festival, Chhoti Diwali too celebrated as the harvest festival. On this day, delicacies are prepared from Poha or Chivada. Poha or Chivada are pounded semi-cooked rice. This rice for Poha is taken from the fresh harvest available at that time. This custom is prevalent specially in Western India.

 

On this day, there is a custom of head wash and application of kajal in the eyes. It is believed that it keeps away the kali nazar (evil eye).

Some people who are into tantra, learn their ‘mantras’ on this day. Maa Kali is called their Kula Devi, in order to cast off evil spirits. In some families, people also offer food to their forefathers on this day.

 

In the morning of Chhoti diwali , people in Hindusism get up earlier than usual. The men rub their bodies with perfumed oils and then, take bath. Subsequently, they wear new or clean clothes. A large breakfast is prepared and enjoyed with relatives or friends.

In the evening of Chhoti Diwali, fireworks are set off. Special sweet dishes are served. House are lit with deeps (lamps filled with vegetable oil) during the evening.

 

Note:- The facts have been taken from different Sanskrit texts, articles and Wikipedia.