India is a melting pot of various religions, traditions, cultures, customs, practices, and ethnicities. Because of this, the country observes hundreds of festivals throughout the year, Holi being one of them. Also called the "Festival of Colours", Holi celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha - Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu and Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu.
Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with 'Holika Dahan', where people gather, perform religious rituals in the front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire.
Here's a look at all you need to know about Holika Dahan.
What is the time and day of Holika Dahan 2022?
According to Panchang, The Purnima tithi will begin at 01:29 pm on March 17 and will remain till 12:47 am on March 18. After which, Chaitra month will begin. On March 18, Pratipadha tithi of Krishna Paksha will come into effect from 12:48 am. Holika Dahan will take place on March 17.The auspicious timings of Holika Dahan are from 9:20 pm to 10:31 pm. It is believed that Holika Dahan Puja should be conducted between the auspicious timings only otherwise people may suffer bad luck and harsh circumstances in their life.What is the significance of Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan marks the victory of the good over the evil. As per legends, on this day, Hiranyakashipu, a demon god attempted to kill his son Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu's son was an ardent follower of Lord Vishnu and his father resented this a lot. To stop Prahlada from worshipping Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu tried to kill him by making him sit on a burning pyre with his aunt Holika, who had a boon that prevented her from being harmed. Prahlada chanted Lord Vishnu's name, who saved him and it was Holika who died in the fire. By lighting the bonfire before Holi, people commemorate the triumph of Bhakt Prahlad’s faith in god over the intentions of his father and his aunt.What are the rituals of Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is also known as Holika Deepak or Chhoti Holi. People on this day light a bonfire after sunset, chant mantras, sing traditional folklore, and circle around the holy bonfire. They place the woods in a clean place, surrounded by straw. Before lighting the fire they offer roli, unbroken rice grains or akshat, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric pieces, unbroken moong daal, batasha (sugar or gur candy), coconut, and gulal where the woods are stacked. They chant the mantra and light the bonfire. People circle the bonfire 5 times and pray for their wellness and happiness. There are some other rituals that people practice on this day for inviting prosperity in their house.
What are the things to do on Holika Dahan?
1. Light a ghee diya and place it in the northern direction/corner of your home. It is believed that doing so brings peace and prosperity to the house.2. People even apply turmeric mixed with sesame oil on their body. They leave it for a while and then scrape it and throw it in the Holika bonfire.3. There is also a tradition of offering dried coconut, mustard seeds, sesame seeds, five or 11 dried cow dung cakes, sugar, whole wheat grains to the sacred fire.4. People even offer water to the Holika while doing the Parikrama and pray for the well-being of the family.What are the things to avoid on Holika Dahan?
1. Avoid water or food offered by an outsider.2. Keep your hair tired in the evening of Holika Dahan or while performing the puja.3. Do not lend money or any of your personal belongings to anyone on this day.4. Do not wear yellow-colored clothes while performing Holika Dahan Puja.
