Gujarat's Diwali eve; Goddess Kali worshipped to remove evil forces

Kali Chaudas is the Gujarati name for Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi, the night before Diwali, and is kept as the night to destroy evil and negativity. 'Kali' here means dark, and 'chaudas' the fourteenth day; it is the darkest night before the new moon. Goddess Mahakali is worshipped to rid the home and the mind of laziness, fear and evil (the 'kali' within), and Hanuman is worshipped alongside her in many homes. It overlaps with Narak Chaturdashi, when Krishna and Satyabhama killed the demon Narakasura. In Gujarati households, vadas (fried lentil fritters) are made and placed at crossroads at midnight as an offering to ward off evil spirits (kakkal), a custom called 'kakkal kadhvi'. Tantrics consider it one of the most powerful nights for sadhana and siddhi of mantras, and families visit Kali, Hanuman and Kal Bhairav temples. Many apply kajal made from the lamp's soot to protect from the evil eye. It is also called Roop Chaudas: people take an early morning ubtan bath for beauty and to shed sins.

No fast is prescribed; some fast until the night puja.