Holika Dahan 1974
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:15
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:03 – 20:27
- Fasting window (tithi)18:23 → 1974-03-08 · 15:27
- Parana (tithi ends)15:271974-03-08
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 1974
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1974
- Vasant Panchami — 28 January 1974
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 1974
- Holi — 9 March 1974
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 24 March 1974
- Ram Navami — 1 April 1974
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 1974
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 21 June 1974
- Guru Purnima — 4 July 1974
- Nag Panchami — 23 July 1974
- Raksha Bandhan — 3 August 1974
- Krishna Janmashtami — 9 September 1974
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 1974
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 1974
- Anant Chaturdashi — 30 September 1974
- Pitru Paksha begins — 2 October 1974
- Sharad Navratri begins — 16 October 1974
- Durga Ashtami — 23 October 1974
- Maha Navami — 24 October 1974
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 25 October 1974
- Karwa Chauth — 3 November 1974
- Dhanteras — 11 November 1974
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 1974
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 13 November 1974
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 1974
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 1974
- Chhath Puja — 20 November 1974
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 29 November 1974
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 29 November 1974
- Hindu Festivals 1974 →