Rajasthan CMO Wishes Citizens Naraka Chaturdashi and Chhoti Diwali
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
As oil lamps flicker to life across Rajasthan and the air fills with the scent of marigolds and incense, the Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan has extended warm greetings to citizens on the occasion of Naraka Chaturdashi and Chhoti Diwali — the twin observances that mark the eve of Diwali.
Posting on Saturday, 7 November 2026, the official Rajasthan CMO account shared a heartfelt message in Hindi: 'समस्त नागरिकों को नरक चतुर्दशी और छोटी दीपावली की हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ' — 'Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all citizens on Naraka Chaturdashi and Chhoti Diwali.' The message further expressed the hope that this 'festival of light' would 'dispel the darkness and ailments from everyone's life and pave the way for good health, long life, and continuous progress.'
What Naraka Chaturdashi and Chhoti Diwali mark
Naraka Chaturdashi falls on the fourteenth lunar day (chaturdashi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik — observed just one day before the main Diwali night. Hindu tradition holds the day as commemorating the slaying of the demon Narakasura, symbolising the triumph of light and virtue over darkness and evil. Across India, the day is also called Chhoti Diwali — 'the smaller Diwali' — and is marked by the early-morning lighting of lamps, ritual oil baths, and the first burst of festive illuminations that set the stage for the grand celebrations ahead.
A routine of cultural outreach with consistent symbolism
State government accounts across India have long used official social media channels to issue festival greetings, reinforcing cultural continuity and public connection during major observances. The Rajasthan CMO's message weaves together three distinct wishes — arogya (good health), deerghayu (long life), and nirantar pragati (continuous progress) — anchoring the ancient festival in a contemporary governance vocabulary of citizen welfare.
It is a small gesture, but a deliberate one: by invoking the festival's core symbolism of light vanquishing darkness, the government aligns itself with the collective hope that marks this season for millions of Rajasthanis.