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Holika Dahan is the ritualistic burning of Holika demon during Holi festival, which usually falls on February – March every year. Holika Dahan, which celebrates the victory of good over evil, is performed one day before the Holi festival.Holi is also related with the story of Prahlad, Holika, and Hrinyakashyapa. The festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Falgun, which falls at the end of winter season and welcome of spring and commemorates with the Mid-February to Mid- March period of the Gregorian calendar. On the occasion of Holi, Hindu community all over the world celebrates this festival with immense joy and fervor. Apart from color playing, community gathering, feast, exchange of gifts and good wishes are vital elements of Holi celebrations.

The date of Holi is decided according to the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the date which commemorates with the Falgun Purnima day of the Hindu calendar. The celebration begins from the eve of Holi with the ritual of Holika Dahan. Holika Dahan, or burning of demon Holika, is the vital ritual during Holi festival. On a night before Holi, people collect wooden logs and waste materials like broken furniture, clothes, etc from their home and gather it together to burn Holika. This bonfire epitomizes the victory of good over evil. It is also even termed as the cleansing ceremony before the actual Holi festival. 

Story of Holika Dahan

Legends say it that it that there was a time when lived a brutal King named Hiranyakashyapa. This demon king Hiranyakashyapa was very cruel and thus forcefully suppressed all this subjects and make them his devotees. He tried to eliminate the existence of God from the earth and establish his own supremacy everywhere. All the citizens of his kingdom were forced to pray to Hiranyakashyapa and not to Vishnu. However his own son, Prahalad, the little never abided by his Kingdoms rule. He tried every way to stop Prahalad from worshipping Vishnu but the little devotee never stopped praying his almighty.

Out of frustration and anger, the demon king then decided to kill his son. Despite all his efforts, Prahalad remained safe by the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Finally, the Hiranyakashyapa decided to take help of his cruel sister Holika. Holika was blessed with a drape which protected her from burning into fire. As per the plan made by the brother and sister, the demon princess Holika sat with young Prahalad in a huge bowl of fire wearing the drape over her body. But this time, due to heavy wind the drape came over young Prahalada, saving him from burning and as a result Holika was burnt in fire and thus died on the spot. This incident thus reestablished the faith of people in the ultimate divine power and is thus celebrated as the day of eternal love, devotion, blessings and the victory of Good over evil.

Holika Dahan Process

Holika Dahan preparations begin almost 40 days before the festival. People start gathering woods on the important crossroads of the city. Holi Pooja or Holika takes place on an auspicious time in the evening a day before the Holi festival. Given below are the steps and rituals for the Holi Pooja:

• Holi Pooja can be performed at any place.
• A log of wood is kept at a prominent public place on the Vasant Panchami day.
• People extend the log centre with twigs, dried leaves, branches of trees and other combustible material.
• On the day of Holika Dahan, an effigy of Holika and Prahlad is placed on the huge heap of woods.
• Effigy of Holika is made of combustible material while Prahlad’s effigy is made of non-combustible material.
• On the eve of Holi, the heap is set alight and the people chant Rakshoghna Mantras of the Rig Veda to cast away the evil spirits.
• Left over ashes are collected by people next morning. These ashes are considered holy and are smeared on the limbs of the body as Holi Prasad.
• Smearing of body limbs is an act of purification.

Holi Pooja is performed in a different manner in some communities. Marwari women offer Holi puja in the afternoon and evening i.e. before setting fire to ‘Holika’. It is called ‘Thandi Holi’. The whole puja process is considered very auspicious for the married women. It ensures well-being and healthy life of their husband.

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