Holika Dahan 1979
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:09
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:05 – 20:29
- Fasting window (tithi)00:36 → 1979-03-14 · 02:45
- Parana (tithi ends)02:451979-03-14
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 1979
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1979
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 1979
- Maha Shivaratri — 25 February 1979
- Holi — 14 March 1979
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 28 March 1979
- Ram Navami — 5 April 1979
- Akshaya Tritiya — 29 April 1979
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 26 June 1979
- Guru Purnima — 9 July 1979
- Nag Panchami — 29 July 1979
- Raksha Bandhan — 8 August 1979
- Krishna Janmashtami — 14 August 1979
- Hartalika Teej — 25 August 1979
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 26 August 1979
- Anant Chaturdashi — 5 September 1979
- Pitru Paksha begins — 7 September 1979
- Sharad Navratri begins — 22 September 1979
- Durga Ashtami — 29 September 1979
- Maha Navami — 30 September 1979
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 1 October 1979
- Karwa Chauth — 8 October 1979
- Dhanteras — 18 October 1979
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 19 October 1979
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 20 October 1979
- Govardhan Puja — 22 October 1979
- Bhai Dooj — 23 October 1979
- Chhath Puja — 27 October 1979
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 4 November 1979
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 4 November 1979
- Hindu Festivals 1979 →