Holika Dahan 2023: One of the largest and most important Hindu festivals, Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is widely observed by Indians around the world. Holi happens on March 8 this year. Before Holi, Indians celebrate Choti Holi or Holika Dahan, a prominent Hindu holiday signifying the triumph of virtue over evil.
The night before Holi, worshippers burn the Holika bonfire to inaugurate the festival of colours. This campfire stands for the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and joy over grief. Holika Dahan or Choti Holi, also called Holika Deepak, occurs every year a day before Holi and Badi Holi. There is debate as to whether it happens on March 6 or 7.
Check out to know all about the correct date, city-wise muhurat, puja vidhi, samagri, history, and more information about this grand occasion.
Holika Dahan 2023: Is Choti Holi on March 6 or 7?
According to Drik Panchang, Choti Holi or Holika Dahan will occur on March 7 this year. On March 7, the Holika Dahan muhurat will last from 6:24 until 8:51.
Bhadra Punchha – 12:43 am to 02:01 am
Bhadra Mukha – 02:01 am to 04:11 am
The Purnima Tithi will begin on March 6 at 4:17 pm and end on March 7 at 6:09 pm.
Also read:- Holi 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Messages to share with your loved ones
Holika Dahan 2023: City-wise Muhurat
The muhurat for Holika Dahan, according to Drik Panchang, is as follows:
New Delhi – 06:24 pm to 08:51 pm
Pune – 06:42 pm to 09:07 pm
Chennai – 06:18 pm to 08:43 pm
Kolkata – 05:42 pm to 06:09 pm
Hyderabad – 06:24 pm to 08:49 pm
Ahmedabad – 06:45 pm to 09:11 pm
Noida – 06:24 pm to 08:51 pm
Jaipur – 06:31 pm to 08:58 pm
Mumbai – 06:46 pm to 09:11 pm
Gurgaon – 06:25 pm to 08:52 pm
Bengaluru – 06:29 pm to 08:54 pm
Chandigarh – 06:25 pm to 08:53 pm
Puja Vidhi
They do the Holika puja by building a bonfire outside of their homes with their neighbours during Holika Dahan or Choti Holi. To symbolise the triumph of good over evil, they burn Holika effigies in the late afternoon or early evening. They also worship the location where the wood is gathered, wrap it in white thread three or seven times, and decorate it with flowers, kumkum, and holy water. During the Holika campfire, people also roast green cereals.
Samagri
A glass of holy water, a cow dung garland, akshat, flowers, garlands, roli, moli, jaggery, turmeric, moong, batashe, gulal, coconut, and wheat baaliyan in the samagri are required for the Holika Dahan ritual.
History and Significance
For Hindus, Choti Holi or Holika Dahan is very important. According to tradition, the demon king Hiranyakashipu was granted a blessing that made it impossible for anybody or anything to harm him. Hiranyakashipu, possessed by his power, coerced people into making him their deity. The son of Hiranyakashipu was devoted to Lord Vishnu and disobeyed his father’s orders. After becoming enraged, the demon king instructed his sister Holika to have him killed while seated on a pyre and shielded from flames.
Prahlad, however, prayed to Lord Vishnu for protection, causing a wind to appear and transfer the shawl to Prahlad. Holika was consumed by the flames, and her demise represents the triumph of good over evil.
