As the Diwali season nears, one of the most cherished and spiritually significant days in the festive cycle is Choti Diwali (also known as Narak Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas). In this post, we explore when it occurs in 2025, its symbolic importance, and how people observe it — especially for Indians living abroad, including in New Zealand.
📅 Choti Diwali 2025: When & What Time?
- Date: Monday, 20 October 2025
- Muhurat (auspicious time for rituals): 04:23 AM to 05:35 AM
- Chaturdashi Tithi timing:
• Begins: 01:51 PM, 19 October 2025
• Ends: 03:44 PM, 20 October 2025
On this day, devotees traditionally take an Abhyang Snan (oil bath) early in the morning, which is believed to purify the body, ward off negative energy, and prepare one spiritually for the festival ahead.
Lighting diyas (oil lamps) and performing morning pujas are part of the observance, celebrating Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakāsura — a metaphor for the triumph of light (good) over darkness (evil).
🎯 Why Is Choti Diwali Important?
- Mythological Significance
The day commemorates Lord Krishna defeating Narakāsura, thus liberating many captive beings. This victory is viewed as symbolic: dispelling ignorance, fear, and evil with knowledge, light, and virtue. - Purification & Renewal
Through the ritual oil bath (Abhyang Snan) and early morning pujas, devotees seek inner and outer cleansing. Homes, too, are lit and decorated to usher in positivity. - Beginning of the Diwali Cycle
Choti Diwali is often seen as the opening of the Diwali festival wave — the spiritual and ritual preparations for the main Diwali day (Lakshmi Puja) begin here.
🪔 Rituals & Traditions on Choti Diwali
Here’s a rundown of how people commonly observe this day:
- Abhyang Snan (Oil Bath):
Taken in the early morning hours, using sesame or mustard oil mixed with aromatic herbs. It’s believed to remove negative energies and prepare the body for the day’s spiritual activities. - Lighting Lamps:
From sunrise, homes are illuminated with diyas and lamps to symbolize light overcoming darkness. - Puja & Offerings:
Devotees perform rituals, chant auspicious mantras, and make offerings to deities, especially Lord Krishna. Some also worship Yama (god of death) for protection and longevity. - Cleaning & Decoration:
Homes are cleaned, rangolis made at entrances, and pure fragrances (incense, ghee) used to uplift the environment spiritually. - Fasting & Abstinence:
Some observe partial fasts, avoid certain foods, or abstain from negative speech as a means of internal discipline.
📆 Diwali Festival Timeline (2025)
To put Choti Diwali in context, here’s how the principal festival days fall in 2025:
| Festival Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras | 18 October 2025 |
| Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdashi | 20 October 2025 |
| Diwali / Lakshmi Puja | 20 October 2025 (same day) |
| Govardhan Puja | 22 October 2025 |
| Bhai Dooj | 23 October 2025 |
🏡 Tips for Indians in New Zealand: How to Observe Choti Diwali Abroad
Even when you’re distant from the land of origin, these practices can help you keep the spirit alive:
- Early Morning Rituals: You may adjust timings slightly as per local dawn times but maintain the intention of beginning the day with purification (a light oil bath, if feasible).
- Lighting Diyas & Lamps Indoors: Use safe lamps or LED diyas inside the home if open flames are restricted. Place them in windows, entrances, balconies to symbolically “light up” your corner of the world.
- Small Puja Corner: Decorate a clean and sacred spot in your home; use small idols or images of Lord Krishna, Lakshmi, or relevant deities.
- Community Gatherings: Organise or join small Indian/Kiwi-Indian community get-togethers to sing bhajans, share sweets, or exchange stories and traditions.
- Sharing with Kids & Younger Family: Use this as an opportunity to tell the story of Krishna and Narakasura, and involve children in simple rituals like lighting a diya or making rangoli (even using colored rice, powders, or chalk).
- Virtual Puja: If far-flung family is observing rituals back home, consider livestreaming their puja or joining virtually to feel more connected.
✨ Final Thoughts
Choti Diwali 2025 isn’t just one more festive day; it’s a spiritual threshold. It beckons us to cast aside darkness, cleanse ourselves, and ready our hearts for the grand festival of light.
Whether in India or thousands of miles away in New Zealand, the essence is universal — the triumph of good over evil, of knowledge over ignorance, of light over darkness.
Let this Choti Diwali be a moment of deep reflection, a spark of hope, and a beginning to meaningful celebration.
Record and share your Diwali experience with us: https://zurl.co/EcM1e
Learn how Indian festivals in NZ are keeping cultural roots alive for the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Diwali 2025
What is Choti Diwali?
Choti Diwali, also known as Narak Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas, is the day before the main Diwali celebration. It marks the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakāsura — symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
When is Choti Diwali in 2025?
Choti Diwali will be celebrated on Monday, 20 October 2025. The Chaturdashi Tithi begins on 19 October at 1:51 PM and ends on 20 October at 3:44 PM. The auspicious time for rituals is from 4:23 AM to 5:35 AM.
What rituals are performed on Choti Diwali?
Common rituals include Abhyang Snan (holy oil bath) early in the morning, lighting diyas, cleaning and decorating the home, offering prayers to Lord Krishna and Yama, and spreading light and positivity.
How can Indians in New Zealand celebrate Choti Diwali?
Even away from home, you can observe the festival meaningfully by lighting diyas indoors, setting up a small puja corner, joining local community events, sharing sweets with friends, and teaching children about the festival’s story and values.
