Holika Dahan 1913
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Holika Dahan puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaHolika Dahan — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Holika Dahan?
On the Purnima of Phalguna, the evening before the Holi of colours. The fire is lit at the pradosh muhurat after sunset, and the exact time is set by the tithi and the avoidance of Bhadra. This year's date is shown above.
Why is a bonfire lit on Holika Dahan?
It re-enacts the burning of Holika and the saving of Prahlad — the victory of devotion over pride. It also clears the dry waste of winter's end and burns, symbolically, the year's evil and ego before the colour play of the next day.
What is the Bhadra period and why does it matter?
Bhadra (the Vishti karana) is held inauspicious for lighting the Holika fire. The Dahan is timed to the pradosh window while avoiding Bhadra, so the muhurat can differ by an hour or two from a simple 'after sunset'.
Is Holika Dahan the same as Holi?
They are two parts of one festival: Holika Dahan is the bonfire on Phalguna Purnima night (Chhoti Holi); the play of colours (Rangwali Holi or Dhuleti) is the next morning.
Other major festivals in 1913
- Makar Sankranti — 13 January 1913
- Vasant Panchami — 11 February 1913
- Maha Shivaratri — 6 March 1913
- Holi — 23 March 1913
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 7 April 1913
- Ram Navami — 15 April 1913
- Akshaya Tritiya — 9 May 1913
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 6 July 1913
- Guru Purnima — 18 July 1913
- Nag Panchami — 6 August 1913
- Raksha Bandhan — 16 August 1913
- Krishna Janmashtami — 24 August 1913
- Hartalika Teej — 3 September 1913
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 4 September 1913
- Anant Chaturdashi — 14 September 1913
- Pitru Paksha begins — 16 September 1913
- Sharad Navratri begins — 1 October 1913
- Durga Ashtami — 7 October 1913
- Maha Navami — 8 October 1913
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 9 October 1913
- Karwa Chauth — 18 October 1913
- Dhanteras — 27 October 1913
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 28 October 1913
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 29 October 1913
- Govardhan Puja — 30 October 1913
- Bhai Dooj — 31 October 1913
- Chhath Puja — 4 November 1913
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 13 November 1913
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 13 November 1913
- Hindu Festivals 1913 →