Holi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India, marking the triumph of good over evil. The festival begins with Holika Dahan, which takes place on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Falgun Purnima. This year, Holika Dahan falls on Thursday, March 13, 2025. However, the ritual will be affected by the presence of Bhadra Kaal, which will cast its shadow over Choti Holi throughout the day.
Holika Dahan Timing: When to Perform the Ritual?
According to astrologers, Falgun Purnima will begin on March 13 at 10:35 AM and will end on March 14 at 12:24 PM. Since Bhadra Kaal will remain in effect for most of the day, the auspicious time for Holika Dahan will be after Bhadra ends, at 11:26 PM on March 13.
Puja Vidhi:
For Holika Dahan puja , sprinkle Gangajal around the bonfire. Apply tilak and take a sankalp for prosperity and negativity's destruction. Offer mustard seeds, coconut, wheat, barley, gulal, turmeric, and camphor into the fire while reciting the Holika Mantra ('Om Holikayai Namah') and Vedic verses (Narasimha Stotra). Perform 3-7 parikramas, offering water, flowers, and sweets. Take ashes home for purification and apply them as tilak the next morning for blessings.
Holika Dahan Mythological Story
According to Hindu Puranas, a king named Hiranyakashapu, like many demons, wished to be immortal. To fulfill this wish, he performed rigorous penance to get a boon from Brahma. Pleased, Brahma granted Hiranyakashapu five wishes: that he would not die at the hands of any creature created by Brahma, that he would not be destroyed by any weapon, day or night, on earth or in the sky, inside or outside, by men or animals, devas or asuras, that he would be incomparable, that he would have never-ending power, and that he would be the sole ruler of all creation.
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After receiving the boon, Hiranyakashapu felt invincible. He punished and killed anyone who objected to his supremacy. Hiranyakashapu had a son named Prahlad. Prahlad refused to worship his father as a god. He continued to believe in and worship Vishnu.
Prahlad's faith in Lord Vishnu enraged Hiranyakashapu, and he made several attempts to kill Prahlad, all of which failed. In one of these attempts, once, King Hiranyakashapu's sister Holika joined her brother in killing Prahlad. According to Vishnu Purana, Holika had received a boon from Brahmaji that she could never get burn in fire, she took disadvantage of that boon and took Pralhad and set a fire. As soon as Pralhad chanted the name of Lord Vishnu, Holika turned into Bhasma while Pralhad was saved.