Narak Chaturdashi in Bhadrachalam

Date and timing in Bhadrachalam

Narak Chaturdashi falls on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, the fourteenth tithi of the waning fortnight of Kartik. In Bhadrachalam (भद्राचलम), India, the observance is tied to the local sunrise and the tithi prevailing at that time. The date computed for Bhadrachalam's own sunrise is:

• 2026: Saturday 7 November 2026
• 2027: Thursday 28 October 2027

Bhadrachalam follows the Asia/Kolkata time zone. The day is observed as Choti Diwali, with Abhyanga snan — the ritual bath — as the central morning practice. The deity associated with the observance is Krishna.

Why the date can differ from India

Narak Chaturdashi is a pan-India observance, but the calendar date is not uniform across the country. The tithi is calculated for each location's own sunrise, and because the tithi's start and end times shift with longitude, a city further east or west may mark the festival a day earlier or later than another. Bhadrachalam's date is therefore computed for Bhadrachalam, not for a single national reference point.

Traditions also differ in how the fortnight is reckoned. Some communities follow the amanta system, others the purnimanta; Smarta and Vaishnava households may differ in which day they treat as primary. For Bhadrachalam's own observance, the dates above reflect the local sunrise calculation. Readers who follow a family or sampradaya tradition may find their date differs by a day, and that is expected — the brief does not pick one system over another. For personal chart-based questions, consult a qualified jyotishi.

Where and how the community celebrates

Narak Chaturdashi is observed across India, and Bhadrachalam is no exception. The day is Choti Diwali, the second of the Diwali observances, and it centres on Krishna. Households rise before sunrise for Abhyanga snan, the oil bath that precedes the day's prayers. The bath is followed by darshan and offerings, and in many homes the day is kept alongside the wider Diwali sequence — Narak Chaturdashi, then Lakshmi Puja, then the new year observances according to the family's calendar.

Because the observance is tied to Krishna, devotees in Bhadrachalam and elsewhere may include Krishna remembrance, kirtan or recitation in the day's routine. The specific form varies by household and sampradaya. No single venue or organisers are named here, as customs differ from family to family and from one locality to another.

Practical tips

• Check the local sunrise time for Bhadrachalam on the day, since the tithi is reckoned from it.
• Plan the Abhyanga snan for the early morning, before sunrise where the family tradition calls for it.
• Confirm the date with your family's panchangam if your household follows a particular sampradaya, as amanta and purnimanta reckonings can differ by a day.
• If you are travelling, note that the date in your city may not match Bhadrachalam's; compute for your own location.
• For personal chart-based guidance, consult a qualified jyotishi rather than relying on a general festival date.