Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi, Today is the second day of the five-day-long Diwali festivity, which started with Dhanteras yesterday. It is also observed as Kali Chaudas.
Hindus celebrate this day as a victory of good over evil. According to the mythological legends, Narkasura, the demon king and son of Mother Earth challenged Lord Indra for a battle to rule over heaven in which he defeated God.
Choti Diwali
‘Naraka’ refers to King Narakasura (demon) and ‘Chaturdashi’ means the fourteenth day. Furthermore, this special day takes place on the fourteenth day of Krishna Paksha according to the Hindu Calendar.
Thereafter, he snatched away the stunning earrings of Aditi- the Mother of the Gods and incarcerated sixteen thousand daughters of saints.
Lord Indra asked Lord Krishna for his help and Krishna decided to challenge the demon king for the battle to put an end to his cruelties
As Naraksura was destined to be killed by a woman who is an incarnation of Bhumidevi. Lord Krishna, asked his wife Satyabhama to accompany him in the battle as she was an incarnation of Bhumidevi. Satyabhama agreed to join her husband in the battle.
Lord Krishna launched an attack on the palace of the Naraksura overcoming all the barriers that came in the way. He even killed the powerful demon Mura who protected the palace with his Sudarshan Chakra.
Fighting all alone, Lord Krishna became tired and weak. Understanding the plight of her husband, she took his place and killed Narakasura with a bow and arrow. All the women captives were freed from his palace. On his death bed, the demon king requested Lord Krishna and his wife that his death should not be mourned but celebrated.
In some parts of India, people worship the gods Lord Krishna, Hanuman and Yama on Choti Diwali, as well as Goddess Kali. Devotees also perform the ritualistic cleansing bath called Abhyanga Snan. During this sacred process, people use sesame oil on their head and body.
So, this day began to be celebrated as Choti Diwali or Narak Chaturdashi in India.
Pooja Kawatra
