Significance
The bonfire night before Holi, when communities light a pyre to mark the burning of Holika and the triumph of devotion over pride.
The story behind Holika Dahan
The young Prahlada loved Vishnu despite his father, the tyrant-king Hiranyakashipu. His aunt Holika, granted immunity from fire, sat with the boy in a blaze meant to kill him — but her boon failed the moment it was misused, and Prahlada walked out unharmed. The bonfire re-enacts that night: pride and cruelty burnt away, faith left standing.
How Holika Dahan is observed
- Gathering wood and lighting the Holika bonfire after sunset, in the Pradosh period.
- Circumambulating the fire and offering grains, coconut, and the season's first harvest.
- Singing and gathering as a community around the flames.
- Carrying home embers or ash as a blessing.
Puja Vidhi & Prayers
Watch the step-by-step puja vidhi, aarti, and prayers for Holika Dahan.
▶ Watch Holika Dahan Puja Vidhi & Prayers on YouTubeHolika Dahan dates (2015–2035)
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 March 2015 | Thursday |
| 2016 | 22 March 2016 | Tuesday |
| 2017 | 12 March 2017 | Sunday |
| 2018 | 1 March 2018 | Thursday |
| 2019 | 20 March 2019 | Wednesday |
| 2020 | 9 March 2020 | Monday |
| 2021 | 28 March 2021 | Sunday |
| 2022 | 17 March 2022 | Thursday |
| 2023 | 6 March 2023 | Monday |
| 2024 | 24 March 2024 | Sunday |
| 2025 | 13 March 2025 | Thursday |
| 2026 | 2 March 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | 21 March 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | 10 March 2028 | Friday |
| 2029 | 29 March 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | 19 March 2030 | Tuesday |
| 2031 | 8 March 2031 | Saturday |
| 2032 | 26 March 2032 | Friday |
| 2033 | 15 March 2033 | Tuesday |
| 2034 | 4 March 2034 | Saturday |
| 2035 | 23 March 2035 | Friday |
Dates are computed from precise sidereal (Lahiri) astronomy for a New Delhi reference and may vary by ±1 day for some evening/midnight festivals depending on your location and regional tradition — the timings above adjust to where you are.