Holika Dahan 1973
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:03
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:08 – 20:32
- Fasting window (tithi)05:28 → 1973-03-19 · 05:00
- Parana (tithi ends)05:001973-03-19
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 1973
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1973
- Vasant Panchami — 8 February 1973
- Maha Shivaratri — 3 March 1973
- Holi — 19 March 1973
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 4 April 1973
- Ram Navami — 11 April 1973
- Akshaya Tritiya — 5 May 1973
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 2 July 1973
- Guru Purnima — 15 July 1973
- Nag Panchami — 3 August 1973
- Raksha Bandhan — 14 August 1973
- Krishna Janmashtami — 21 August 1973
- Hartalika Teej — 30 August 1973
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 31 August 1973
- Anant Chaturdashi — 11 September 1973
- Pitru Paksha begins — 13 September 1973
- Sharad Navratri begins — 27 September 1973
- Durga Ashtami — 4 October 1973
- Maha Navami — 5 October 1973
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 6 October 1973
- Karwa Chauth — 15 October 1973
- Dhanteras — 23 October 1973
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 25 October 1973
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 25 October 1973
- Govardhan Puja — 27 October 1973
- Bhai Dooj — 28 October 1973
- Chhath Puja — 1 November 1973
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 10 November 1973
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 10 November 1973
- Hindu Festivals 1973 →