Holi is the festival of colours, fun, joy, and for many, a chance to burn evil from the inside out. And although Holi paints an image of fun and frolly, it is the Chhoti Holi that is celebrated with devotion. On Chhoti Holi, families and communities in the Northern parts of India perform the Holika Dahan, a ritual where good wins over evil. Before playing with colours on Holi, people gather for the Holika Dahan, making a bonfire, offering it wood, twigs, and more, and leaving away the evil in their heart. Holi and Holika Dahan 2025In 2025, Holi will be celebrated on Friday, March 14, while Holika Dahan will take place on the evening of Thursday, March 13. The muhurat for Holika Dahan, according to Drik Panchang is “Holika Dahan on Thursday, March 13, 2025Holika Dahan Muhurta – 11:26 PM to 12:30 AM, Mar 14Duration – 01 Hour 04 Mins”Performing Holika Dahan at the right time is important, and many families consult their family priests to get the spiritual benefits of the Dahan. According to the Hindu Panchang, Holika Dahan should be performed during the Pradosh Kaal,Bhadra kaal on Holi dayOff late, many festivals and occasions have a Bhadra kaal in them, and people do not prefer doing Puja during this time. Bhadra Kaal is basically an inauspicious period during which no rituals or religious ceremonies should be performed. If Holika Dahan, or any other ritual, is conducted during Bhadra, it is believed to bring bad luck and negative consequences. According to Drik Panchang, “Bhadra Punchha – 06:57 PM to 08:14 PMBhadra Mukha – 08:14 PM to 10:22 PM”And so the Dahan will be between “11:26 PM on March 13 to 12:30 AM on March 14”. Significance of Holika Dahan Holika Dahan is a part of Hindu rituals, and has the story of Holika and Prahlad linked to it.It is said that Prahlad was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, but his father, King Hiranyakaship, was a tyrant and wanted everyone to worship him instead. When Prahlad outrightly devoted himself to Lord Vishnu, he grew furious thinking that no one will worship or fear him if his own son won’t devote himself. And so, Hiranyakaship told his sister, Holika, to kill Prahlad. Holika had a boon that made her immune to fire, and so she sat in a burning pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But as Lord Vishnu got to know about the duo’s planning, he intervened with his divine powers and Prahlad remained unharmed while Holika was reduced to ashes. Rituals of Holika DahanThe rituals of Holika Dahan are simple and similar around India. People collect wood to set up a bonfire, and it starts days before Holika Dahan, and children are advised to collect the wood as Prahlad was a little kid when Lord Vishnu saved him. A pyre is then prepared in an open space, and then an effigy of Holika is tied to the fire to reenact the story.Before lighting the fire, people also do a simple puja at home or in the temple nearby, and people offer haldi, kumkum, flowers, and coconut to the bonfire. Post Holika Dahan celebrationsAfter Holika Dahan, the next day is particularly special, especially for little children. They begin collecting colours, water guns (Pichkari), balloons and more well in advance and it is go time early in the morning. Children attack each other with Pichkari and water-filled balloons and go around the colonies smearing colours on each other. Dos’ and dont’s for Holika Dahan and Holi celebrationSome things to do and remember on both the occasions is that to perform Holika Dahan, make sure you do it during the Pradosh Kaal, and avoid the Bhadra Kaal timing. Plus, use natural wood and organic materials to offer to the fire. And be pure, positive, and true to your prayers and ask God to protect you from evil of any kind, be it a scary enemy or a toxic aunt like Prahlad’s.And on the day of Holi, do not play with permanent colours and dyes or abuse the ‘Thandai’ rituals with your friends. In the end, personal health is above everything.
Holika Dahan 2025: When is Holika Dahan, correct date, timings, bhadra kaal, and more |
