Holika Dahan needs no introduction! When to celebrate this festival this year? What rituals to perform? Answers to all these questions and more are HERE! So, keep scrolling down!
Before the festival of colors, i.e., Holi makes its appearance, Holika Dahan is celebrated by Hindus a day before with great zeal and show. Also known as 'Choti Holi,' the day commemorates the triumph of virtue and good over evil as Lord Vishnu helped Prahlad survive the fire while Holika was consumed by it.
Holi is celebrated on Purnima (Full Moon Day) during the Phalgun month, and Holika Dahan is celebrated the previous night. According to the Gregorian calendar, the occasion corresponds to February or March. Holashtak is the eight days inauspicious period before the festival of colors. The period of Holashtak is considered inauspicious by Hindu communities in the Northern parts of India; hence, no auspicious work is done during this time.
Here is the Holika Dahan 2024 date and time, as per the Indian Standard Time (IST).
Holika Dahan Date- 24th March 2024 (Sunday)
Holika Dahan Time - 11:13 PM (24th Mar) to 12:26 PM (25th Mar) 11:13 PM to 12:26 AM, Mar 25
Bhadra Punchha - 06:33 PM to 07:53 PM
Bhadra Mukha - 07:53 PM to 10:06 PM
Purnima Tithi (Starts) - 09:54 PM, 24th March 2024
Purnima Tithi (Ends) - 12:29 PM, 25th March 2024
Holi - 25th March 2024 (Monday)
When it comes to Holika Dahan, it should be done during the Pradosh Kaal when the Purnima Tithi is continuing, and Bhadra is over. Bhadra or inauspicious time is in the first half of this Tithi; remember that propitious work of any kind should be avoided when Bhadra prevails. In a situation where Bhadra continues during Pradosh but ends before midnight, the Holika Dahan festival should be celebrated after Bhadra is over. On the other hand, if Bhadra ends after midnight, then observe the festival during Bhadra, preferably during the Bhadra Punchha.
Keep in mind that you must avoid Bhadra Mukha for Holika Dahan. This is because if the occasion is celebrated in the Bhadra Mukha, it can bring bad luck for everyone for a year. If, due to any circumstance, Bhadra Punchha is unavailable between Pradosh and midnight, then perform the occasion during Pradosh. If Pradosh or Bhadra Punchha is unavailable, you can celebrate it after Pradosh.
The significance of Holika Dahan is that it celebrates the victory of good over evil. It also marks the beginning of spring. This occasion commemorates the burning of the demoness, Holika, who was the sister of the demon King- Hiranyakashyap, with the help of Lord Vishnu. Holi, the festival of colors, is a two-day festival, and Holika Dahan is celebrated on the eve of Holi. A huge bonfire is built to celebrate this occasion, but this occasion is different from Lohri. The bonfire signifies the burning of Holika, which symbolizes the defeat of evil.
This occasion is also known as 'Holika' or 'Kamadu Chita' in some regions of India. One cannot deny that Holika Dahan and Holi go beyond the boundaries of religion and defies all religious discrimination. Holika Dahan is an important ritual across India and an integral part of the Holi festival.
Check this out:👉 Get to Know All About The Festival of Colors- Holi
Holika Dahan is the ceremony done in the evening to start the process of Holi celebrations. The preparation for the ceremony begins days before the Holika Dahan festival. Wood and combustible materials are gathered to light the bonfires made in the open spaces. According to traditions, people contribute wood for the Holika bonfire, as the bonfire represents the fire that consumed Holika when she tried to kill Prahlad, her nephew. The Holika Dahan Puja is performed during the evening at an auspicious time. Some people perform this pious Puja at their homes, whereas others perform the Puja at the site of Holika Dahan.
Holika Dahan is done with complete ritualistic worship. The rituals might differ from one place to another. Given below are the rituals associated with Holi Pujan or Holika Dahan Puja.
First, you should have all the materials or samagri needed for the Puja. Items such as cow dung cakes, Dhoop and Agarbatti (incense sticks), Akshat (unbroken rice), a Kalash full of water, flowers, Gulal, a whole coconut, fruits, Batasha or any other sweets, grains of freshly cultivated crops like wheat or gram, wood for the bonfire, Kumkum (vermillion), Haldi (turmeric), whole Moong Dal, Deep (oil-filled lamps), Kalava (cotton thread) are needed. The fully grown grains from freshly harvested crops like wheat are roasted in the Puja and served as Prasad.
Use Gangajal (water from the Ganga river) to clean the place where you would like to perform the Holika Dahan. You must make sure that it is an open field.
Before Holika Dahan, the Holi Puja is done. During the Puja, the worshiper should sit near Holika facing the East or North direction with a small water pot at the place of worship.
In Hinduism, all Pujas start with the worship of Lord Ganesha, so invoke Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings so that you can perform Holika Dahan. After that, worship Goddess Ambika or Gauri and then Lord Narasimha. Seek the blessings of Prahlad as well. Also, light an oil-filled lamp, and invoke Lord Narasimha by chanting this mantra-
“Namaste Narasimhaya, Prahladahlada-dayine,
Hiranyakasiporvaksaha, shila-tanka nakhalaye |
Ito Nrsimhah parato narsimho, yato yato yami tato nrsimhah,
Bahir narsimho hridaye nrsimho, nrsimhamadim saranam prapadye ||”
To worship, keep all the Puja samagri or materials that you need at hand. Make sure to worship using all the materials for the rituals. Also, worship Lord Narasimha with complete rituals. Offer sweets, fruits, and other essential materials, such as the Bharbholiye (garland made of dried cow dung), to Holika. Idols of the demoness, Holika, and Prahlad made of cow dung are put on the heap.
After worshiping and seeking the blessings of Lord Narasimha, the idol of Prahlad is removed for safekeeping prior to Holika Dahan.
After that, the bonfire, created from the pile of wood, and the idol of Holika are set on fire. During this time, devotees chant the 'Rakshoghna Mantras' mentioned in the Rig Vedas to ward off evil spirits. This ritual narrates how the divine Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad from fire while Holika was burnt into ashes. Prahlad was a devout worshiper of Lord Vishnu, and his prayers acted as his shield on the pyre.
Conclude your prayers and worship by circumambulating around the bonfire thrice, five or seven times. While circumambulating, raw yarn is tied around the Holika. Also, offer water to Holika. You should also empty the water pot in front of Holika.
People who have gathered there also offer new crops to the bonfire and roast them. The roasted grains are then distributed as the Prasad among people.
The burning of Holika illustrates the triumph of good over evil. This is why this occasion is observed by people dancing and singing around the fire. Seasonal and festival's favorite delicacies, such as Gujiya, Malpuas, Mathri, etc., are prepared, and Holi is observed the next day. The next day, the ashes are collected by people in the morning. The ash is considered sacred; thus, people apply it to their bodies. Smearing the ash on the body is regarded as an act of purification.
Devotees believe that celebrating Holika Dahan will eliminate all the negative energies in their families. On this occasion, devotees worship the divine Lord Vishnu to seek his blessings for prosperity and eliminate all the evils, diseases, and negative energies from their lives.
What Is The Story of Holika Dahan?
The answer to why Holika Dahan is significant can be found in mythology. According to mythology, there once was a powerful and egotistical king, Hiranyakshyap, who wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship and consider him God. However, to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to bow down before him. He continued worshiping Lord Vishnu. This made Hiranyakashyap quite angry, and he made many attempts to kill his son. But Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he asked his sister, Holika, for help.
To get rid of Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap asked Holika to sit on a blazing pyre with Prahlad in her lap. Hiranyakashyap knew Holika had been granted a boon that made her immune to fire so she would be unscathed. Holika persuaded Prahlad to sit in her lap and then sat in the blazing fire. Holika had a shawl gifted by the divine Lord Brahma that protected her from fire. Prahlad kept chanting Lord Vishnu's name with complete devotion, and Lord Vishnu blessed and saved him from the fire. The divine deity summoned a gust of wind to blow the shawl off Holika and onto young Prahlad.
Therefore, nothing happened to him while Holika got charred and died. Hiranyakashyap was later killed by Lord Vishnu's incarnation- Narasimha. Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika. This is why people recreate the scene of Holika burning to ashes on Holika Dahan every year to observe the triumph of good over evil. This mythological legend teaches us that no matter how strong the opponent is, nothing can harm a true devotee as they will always be blessed.
Thus, Holika Dahan holds enormous significance, which is why people celebrate it with splendor.
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