Holika Dahan 2002
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:53
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:12 – 20:36
- Fasting window (tithi)03:48 → 23:54
- Parana (tithi ends)23:54
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 2002
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2002
- Vasant Panchami — 17 February 2002
- Maha Shivaratri — 12 March 2002
- Holi — 29 March 2002
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 13 April 2002
- Ram Navami — 21 April 2002
- Akshaya Tritiya — 15 May 2002
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 12 July 2002
- Guru Purnima — 24 July 2002
- Nag Panchami — 13 August 2002
- Raksha Bandhan — 22 August 2002
- Krishna Janmashtami — 30 August 2002
- Hartalika Teej — 9 September 2002
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 10 September 2002
- Anant Chaturdashi — 20 September 2002
- Pitru Paksha begins — 22 September 2002
- Sharad Navratri begins — 7 October 2002
- Durga Ashtami — 13 October 2002
- Maha Navami — 14 October 2002
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 15 October 2002
- Karwa Chauth — 25 October 2002
- Dhanteras — 2 November 2002
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 3 November 2002
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 4 November 2002
- Govardhan Puja — 5 November 2002
- Bhai Dooj — 6 November 2002
- Chhath Puja — 10 November 2002
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 19 November 2002
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 19 November 2002
- Hindu Festivals 2002 →