Holika Dahan 1966
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:16
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:02 – 20:26
- Fasting window (tithi)11:03 → 1966-03-07 · 07:13
- Parana (tithi ends)07:131966-03-07
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 1966
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1966
- Vasant Panchami — 27 January 1966
- Maha Shivaratri — 18 February 1966
- Holi — 7 March 1966
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 23 March 1966
- Ram Navami — 31 March 1966
- Akshaya Tritiya — 23 April 1966
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 20 June 1966
- Guru Purnima — 2 July 1966
- Nag Panchami — 20 August 1966
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 1966
- Krishna Janmashtami — 7 September 1966
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 1966
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 1966
- Anant Chaturdashi — 28 September 1966
- Pitru Paksha begins — 30 September 1966
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 1966
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 1966
- Maha Navami — 22 October 1966
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 23 October 1966
- Karwa Chauth — 1 November 1966
- Dhanteras — 10 November 1966
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 1966
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 1966
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 1966
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 1966
- Chhath Puja — 18 November 1966
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 1966
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 1966
- Hindu Festivals 1966 →