Holika Dahan 2006
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:08
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:06 – 20:30
- Fasting window (tithi)02:32 → 2006-03-15 · 05:05
- Parana (tithi ends)05:052006-03-15
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 2006
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2006
- Vasant Panchami — 2 February 2006
- Maha Shivaratri — 26 February 2006
- Holi — 15 March 2006
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 30 March 2006
- Ram Navami — 6 April 2006
- Akshaya Tritiya — 30 April 2006
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 27 June 2006
- Guru Purnima — 11 July 2006
- Nag Panchami — 30 July 2006
- Raksha Bandhan — 9 August 2006
- Krishna Janmashtami — 15 August 2006
- Hartalika Teej — 27 August 2006
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 27 August 2006
- Anant Chaturdashi — 6 September 2006
- Pitru Paksha begins — 8 September 2006
- Sharad Navratri begins — 23 September 2006
- Durga Ashtami — 30 September 2006
- Maha Navami — 1 October 2006
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 2 October 2006
- Karwa Chauth — 10 October 2006
- Dhanteras — 19 October 2006
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 20 October 2006
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 21 October 2006
- Govardhan Puja — 23 October 2006
- Bhai Dooj — 24 October 2006
- Chhath Puja — 28 October 2006
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 5 November 2006
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 5 November 2006
- Hindu Festivals 2006 →