Holika Dahan 1986
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:56
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:11 – 20:35
- Fasting window (tithi)10:51 → 1986-03-26 · 08:35
- Parana (tithi ends)08:351986-03-26
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 1986
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1986
- Vasant Panchami — 13 February 1986
- Maha Shivaratri — 8 March 1986
- Holi — 27 March 1986
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 10 April 1986
- Ram Navami — 18 April 1986
- Akshaya Tritiya — 11 May 1986
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 9 July 1986
- Guru Purnima — 21 July 1986
- Nag Panchami — 10 August 1986
- Raksha Bandhan — 19 August 1986
- Krishna Janmashtami — 27 August 1986
- Hartalika Teej — 7 September 1986
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 7 September 1986
- Anant Chaturdashi — 17 September 1986
- Pitru Paksha begins — 19 September 1986
- Sharad Navratri begins — 4 October 1986
- Durga Ashtami — 10 October 1986
- Maha Navami — 11 October 1986
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 12 October 1986
- Karwa Chauth — 21 October 1986
- Dhanteras — 30 October 1986
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 1 November 1986
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 1 November 1986
- Govardhan Puja — 3 November 1986
- Bhai Dooj — 3 November 1986
- Chhath Puja — 7 November 1986
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 16 November 1986
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 16 November 1986
- Hindu Festivals 1986 →