Holika Dahan 2028
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Today's Panchang
Kashi reference · computed live- Tithi
- Saptami
- till 20:47
- Nakshatra
- Ashwini
- till 21:21
- Yoga
- Shula
- Karana
- Vishti
- Sunrise
- 05:26
- Sunset
- 18:41
- Moon sign
- Aries
- Sun sign
- Cancer
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:12
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:04 – 20:28
- Fasting window (tithi)10:14 → 2028-03-11 · 06:30
- Parana (tithi ends)06:302028-03-11
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 2028
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2028
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 2028
- Maha Shivaratri — 23 February 2028
- Holi — 11 March 2028
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 27 March 2028
- Ram Navami — 3 April 2028
- Akshaya Tritiya — 27 April 2028
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 24 June 2028
- Guru Purnima — 6 July 2028
- Nag Panchami — 26 July 2028
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 2028
- Krishna Janmashtami — 13 August 2028
- Hartalika Teej — 22 August 2028
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 2028
- Anant Chaturdashi — 2 September 2028
- Pitru Paksha begins — 4 September 2028
- Sharad Navratri begins — 19 September 2028
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 2028
- Maha Navami — 27 September 2028
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 27 September 2028
- Karwa Chauth — 7 October 2028
- Dhanteras — 15 October 2028
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 17 October 2028
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 17 October 2028
- Govardhan Puja — 18 October 2028
- Bhai Dooj — 19 October 2028
- Chhath Puja — 23 October 2028
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 2 November 2028
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 2 November 2028
- Hindu Festivals 2028 →