Holika dehen�is a celebration of good triumphing over evil. It is the start of the Holi festival. Holika Dahan falls on the Purnima tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Phalgun. Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated the next day, on Pratipada tithi of Chaitra month. Let's know about the holika dahan story and its Significance.

Holika Dahan will be held this year on March 17th, with the colours being played on March 18th. According to Hindu custom, Holashtak begins eight days before the Holika Dahan, during which time people think no auspicious work should be done.

Holika Dahan is most auspicious between 9:20 and 10:31 p.m. It is thought that Holika Dahan Puja should only be performed during auspicious times, or individuals may face bad luck and adversity in their lives.

Holika Dahan Story and Its Significance

There is a narrative about Holika and Prahlad in Hindu mythology. King Hiranyakashyap had a son named Prahlad. Hiranyakashyap was opposed to the worship of any god. His son, however, Prahlad, was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap attempted to kill his son several times due to his faith in Lord Vishnu, but each time he failed.

Then he phoned his sister Holika, who had the gift of never being consumed by fire. Holika was ordered to sit in the fire with Prahlad on his lap by the King. Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad on her brother's orders, but Prahlad continued to sing the name of Lord Vishnu, and Prahlad was spared by Lord Vishnu's favour, while Holika was burned to death in the fire.

Since then, the Holika Dahan celebration has been held every year on the day of Phalgun Purnima as a symbol of good triumphing over evil.

The Legend's Celebration: Holika Dahan Story

Every year, people recreate the incident of 'Holika's burning to ashes' to commemorate good triumphing over evil. In numerous Indian states, particularly in the north, statues of Holika are burned in massive bonfires. Cow dung is even thrown into the fire and curses are hurled at it as if it were Holika. Then chants of 'Holi-hai!' may be heard all over.�

The tradition of burning 'Holika' is also practised religiously in Gujarat and Orissa. People here express their appreciation to Agni, the god of fire, by giving grain and crop stalks with humility.

People also take a little fire from the bonfire to their homes on the last day of Holi. It is thought that by adhering to this tradition, their homes will be cleansed and their bodies will be disease-free.

Cleaning homes and eliminating any unclean things from around the house and burning them is also a ritual in several places. As a result, disease-causing microorganisms are killed, and the sanitary quality of the area improves.