Holika Dahan: Date, Muhurat

Holi, the festival of colours, is almost knocking at the door. The date on which Holi falls is determined by the Indian Lunar calender. The festival is a tribute to Prahalad and stands for good over evil. A day before Holi, also known as Choti Holi, Holika Dahan is done at an auspicious time. During Holika Dahan, the various Sanskrit mantras are chanted. It is considered that with this ritual, the holy heat of the fire clears all negative energies. Read on to find out how to prepare and do Holika Dahan.

Holi 2024: Date and Muhurat

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See also: How to make Holi colours at home?

History of Holika Dahan

The story goes that Hiranyakashyapu, the father of Prahlad, was a powerful king. As nothing could harm him, he wanted people to worship him before god. Since Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu didn’t comply to his order, he asked his sister Holika for help. Holika had a boon that she wouldn’t burn under fire. However, when she attempted to kill Prahlad, Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad and Holika was burnt instead.

Rules to follow on Holika Dahan day 

• Take a bath and put on a new dress.
• Always face towards the east direction as it is considered a holy direction for pooja.
• Place idols of God and apply abeer or gulal on the idols.
• Also, keep tulsi leaves and other flowers handy for Dahan pooja.
• Many people fast on Holika Dahan day. You may alternatively eat satvik food, including fruits and dairy products. If observing a fast, you must offer water to the moon to break the fast.
• On the day of Holika Dahan, food should be cooked without onion and garlic.
• Sweet delicacies like malpua, halwa, gulgule, etc., are prepared at home as part of holi celebrations.

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• After the bonfire, you can put the ash in your home. Use it as a good fertiliser for plants. This ash is considered very pious, which removes all negative energies from your home.

Holika Dahan rituals: Holika sthapana before Dahan

• The place where the Holika will be kept is washed with cow dung and holy water from the Ganges.
• A wooden stick in the centre is surrounded by a wreath made of beads and cow dung toys. These toys are commonly known as Gulari, BharbHoliye, or Badkulla. Holika and Prahlada idols, usually made of cow dung, are placed on the top of the Holika.
• Holika stacks are decorated with shields, swords, suns, moons, stars, and other cow dung toys.
• During Holika Dahan, Prahlada’s idol is brought out.
• In addition, four cow dung balls are safely stored before the campfire. One is reserved for ancestors, the second for Lord Hanuman, the third for Goddess Sita, and the fourth for the family.

How to do Holika pooja?

Holika pooja is done with Sanskrit mantras. Make sure to understand these Sanskrit mantras mentioned here to get the benefits of this Pooja.

• Arrange the pooja ingredients -raw cotton thread, turmeric, roli, akshat, sesame seeds, dry coconut, wheat, flowers, various dals like moong dal, toys made of sugar, holy Ganga water, grains from freshly-cultivated crops, peanuts and jaggery.
• If you want to do the pooja independently, ensure you are in the east-facing direction.
• Sprinkle some water on you and pooja ingredients with this mantra:

ऊँ पुण्डरीकाक्ष: पुनातु। x 3

• After this, you have to take a Sankalp. Here is the mantra.

ऊँ विष्णु: विष्णु: विष्णु: श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया अद्य दिवसे ________ (your god’s name) नाम संवत्सरे संवत् ________ (year of the pooja) फाल्गुन मासे शुभे शुक्लपक्षे पूर्णिमायां शुभ तिथि ________ (the day of the pooja) ________ गौत्र (your gotro) उत्पन्ना ________ (your name) मम इह जन्मनि जन्मान्तरे वा सर्वपापक्षयपूर्वक दीर्घायुविपुलधनधान्यं शत्रुपराजय मम् दैहिक दैविक भौतिक त्रिविध ताप निवृत्यर्थं सदभीष्टसिद्धयर्थे प्रह्लादनृसिंहहोली इत्यादीनां पूजनमहं करिष्यामि।

• After this mantra, you have to do the pooja of lord Ganesha with this mantra.

गजाननं भूतगणादिसेवितं कपित्थजम्बूफलचारुभक्षणम्।

उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वरपादपमजम्।।

ऊँ गं गणपतये नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।

• Next, worship goddess Ambika.

ऊँ अम्बिकायै नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि सर्मपयामि।।

• Worship Lord Narasimha and offer Roli and rice on a flower to the lord.

ऊँ नृसिंहाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।।

• Again apply Roli and rice on a flower and offer it to Prahlada.

ऊँ प्रह्लादाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।।

• Now, you need to worship Holika with folded hands. Chant this mantra mentioned below.

असृक्पाभयसंत्रस्तै: कृता त्वं होलि बालिशै:

अतस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि भूते भूतिप्रदा भव:।।

• Finally, offer all other pooja ingredients to the Holika. Tie three or five rounds of raw yarn. Make sure the number of tieing should be of odd numbers.
• Sprinkle some Ganga water on the Holika.
• Now, light a fire in the Holika pile. Apply roli and Abeer or gulal on the forehead.
• Offer new crops to the Holika fire. When those crops are roasted, take them out from the fire, this will be Holika Prasad. Distribute it among all family members.

 

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Housing.com POV

Holika Dahan day is when people make amends and bring in positivity in life. The festival of Holi is celebrated with great pomp and show in India and other places such as the United States, Europe and Australia etc. While it is a day of enjoyment, play the festival of colours responsibly. Do not forcefully play Holi with people who are not interested.

FAQs

When is Holika Dahan in 2024?

Holika Dahan in 2024 will be celebrated on March 24, 2024.

When is Holi celebrated?

Holi is celebrated on Purnima.

Why do we use gulal or abeer on Holi?

On Holi, we apply gulal to everyone's face because it is considered an auspicious act that saves us from all negative energies.

What is Chhoti Holi?

Chhoti Holi is celebrated a day before Holi. Holika Dahan is known as chhoti Holi because on the day of Holika Dahan, abeer or gulal is used, and other traditional rituals are performed.

Where did the Holi festival get its name from?

The festival is named after the demoness Holika. It is a festival that reminds us of the victory of good over evil.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com