Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day in the five days long festival of Diwali.

It is known by various names throughout the country – Kali Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali, Naraka Nivaran Chaturdasi or Bhoot Chaturdasi. According to legends, the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali on this day. 

There are early morning rituals that begin the celebrations for the day.

Kali means dark and Chaudas means fourteenth. Kali Chaudas falls on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Ashwin month in the Hindu calendar. The worship of Mahakali is done especially on this day. It is strongly suggestive of the origin of Diwali as a harvest festival. The rituals have pujas performed with essential things like oil, flowers, and sandalwood.

Coconuts are also offered to Hanuman. The sweet offerings contain sesame seed, jaggery and rice flakes (poha) with ghee and sugar. The fresh harvest provides with the rice with which the poha is made.

It is observed that the night of Naraka Chaturdasi is one of the most dangerous nights in the year. Those who practice black magic, also known as tantriks, try to enhance their power. It is said that unhappy souls can be appeased on this day. There are crowds of such practitioners in crematoriums who perform their own ceremonies to please Lord Kaal Bhairav and Goddess Meladi.

It is almost like Halloween conceptually, but it does not have the festive trick or treating and rather is much darker.

There are also some general traditions that one must wash their head on this day and apply kajal to keep negative energy away and wash oneself off of their sins. An early morning bath is mandatory and so is wearing new clothes and offering our worships to the gods and goddesses.