Holika Dahan 1949
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:07
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:06 – 20:30
- Fasting window (tithi)04:21 → 1949-03-15 · 00:33
- Parana (tithi ends)00:331949-03-15
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 1949
- Makar Sankranti — 13 January 1949
- Vasant Panchami — 3 February 1949
- Maha Shivaratri — 25 February 1949
- Holi — 15 March 1949
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 30 March 1949
- Ram Navami — 7 April 1949
- Akshaya Tritiya — 1 May 1949
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 28 June 1949
- Guru Purnima — 10 July 1949
- Nag Panchami — 30 July 1949
- Raksha Bandhan — 8 August 1949
- Krishna Janmashtami — 16 August 1949
- Hartalika Teej — 26 August 1949
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 27 August 1949
- Anant Chaturdashi — 6 September 1949
- Pitru Paksha begins — 8 September 1949
- Sharad Navratri begins — 23 September 1949
- Durga Ashtami — 29 September 1949
- Maha Navami — 30 September 1949
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 1 October 1949
- Karwa Chauth — 10 October 1949
- Dhanteras — 19 October 1949
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 21 October 1949
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 21 October 1949
- Govardhan Puja — 22 October 1949
- Bhai Dooj — 23 October 1949
- Chhath Puja — 27 October 1949
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 5 November 1949
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 5 November 1949
- Hindu Festivals 1949 →