Holika Dahan 1976
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:06
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:07 – 20:31
- Fasting window (tithi)12:04 → 1976-03-16 · 08:26
- Parana (tithi ends)08:261976-03-16
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 1976
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1976
- Vasant Panchami — 5 February 1976
- Maha Shivaratri — 28 February 1976
- Holi — 16 March 1976
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 31 March 1976
- Ram Navami — 8 April 1976
- Akshaya Tritiya — 2 May 1976
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 29 June 1976
- Guru Purnima — 11 July 1976
- Nag Panchami — 31 July 1976
- Raksha Bandhan — 9 August 1976
- Krishna Janmashtami — 17 August 1976
- Hartalika Teej — 28 August 1976
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 28 August 1976
- Anant Chaturdashi — 7 September 1976
- Pitru Paksha begins — 9 September 1976
- Sharad Navratri begins — 24 September 1976
- Durga Ashtami — 30 September 1976
- Maha Navami — 1 October 1976
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 2 October 1976
- Karwa Chauth — 12 October 1976
- Dhanteras — 21 October 1976
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 22 October 1976
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 22 October 1976
- Govardhan Puja — 24 October 1976
- Bhai Dooj — 24 October 1976
- Chhath Puja — 28 October 1976
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 6 November 1976
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 6 November 1976
- Hindu Festivals 1976 →