Holika Dahan, also known as Holika Deepak or Chhoti Holi, marks the eve of the lively festival of Holi. Holika Dahan celebrates the victory of good over evil. This traditional ritual involves burning an effigy of a mythical demon named Holika. It is an important ritual that does before Holi. According to the Hindu calendar, it is celebrated on the full moon night of Falgun month. According to mythology, Lord Vishnu is a way of celebrating Holika’s fast.
Holika Dahan’s date and auspicious time
This year, Holika Dahan will be celebrated on 13 March, Thursday. It is the full moon day of the month of Falgun.
The time is very important for Holika Dahana because it is believed that performing rituals during this auspicious time ensures spiritual benefits, success and removal of negative energy. So, the time for 2025 is given below:
- Holika Dahan Muhatrat: 11:26 pm on 13 March and 12:30 pm on March 14 at 12:30 pm
- Bhadra Pancha: 6:57 pm to 8:14 pm
- Bhadra Mukha: March 13 from 8:14 pm to 10:22 pm
- Holika Dahan during Pradhan with Bhadra: 11:26 pm on 13 March and 12:30 pm on March 14 at 12:30 pm
- Purnima Tithi: March 14 at 12:23 pm
Holika Dahan ritual
A Holika Dahan Mantra is chanting a Holika Dahan Mantra while burning an bonfire dedicated to this ceremony. To maintain peace and happiness, devotees respect and pray for Holika’s spirit. Prayers are offered by moving around three, five, or seven times with water vessels. Then, devotees empty the vessels when emptying.
After the Holika Dahan Bonfire ritual, Tilak is stained on the forehead of the devotees. Bakes or roasted crops of weather are eaten. Some devotees also take some Holika Ash to their homes because it is considered an auspicious practice.
Holika Dahan History and Importance
Holika Dahan has many legends, but the most popularly mentioned is about Prahlada, son of demon Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. According to legends, Prahlada was born and brought under the protection of a sage named Narada. Around this time, Hiranyakashipu was trying to make Lord Brahma happy to attain immortality. Hiranyakashipu was the enemy of Vishnu and he was angry at Prahlada to be a devotee of Vishnu.
After Prahlada refused to accept Hiranyakashipu, the demon got upset, who asked his sister Holika to kill Prahlada. Holika planned to kill Prahlada in one bonfire. She thought she would take Prahlada to the bonfire and kill her. Holika had a divine shawl, which Lord Brahma gifted to protect her. As Prahlada was a devotee of Vishnu, the divine shawl saved Prahlada instead of Holika.
It is believed that Prahlad started chanting Vishnu’s name when the fire was lit. Vishnu noticed that his devotee was in great danger and he called the wind, which blew Holika from a shawl and covered Prahlad. Holika was burnt in ashes and Prahlada’s life was saved. Since then, Holika Dahan has a symbol of the victory of good over evil.