Holika Dahan 2031
The bonfire of Holi eve, lit while Purnima prevails after sunset.
Today's Panchang
Kashi reference · computed live- Tithi
- Ashtami
- till 18:59
- Nakshatra
- Bharani
- till 20:18
- Yoga
- Ganda
- Karana
- Balava
- Sunrise
- 05:27
- Sunset
- 18:40
- Moon sign
- Aries
- Sun sign
- Cancer
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:15
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:03 – 20:27
- Fasting window (tithi)10:01 → 2031-03-09 · 10:03
- Parana (tithi ends)10:032031-03-09
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 2031
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2031
- Vasant Panchami — 27 January 2031
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2031
- Holi — 10 March 2031
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 24 March 2031
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2031
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2031
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 22 June 2031
- Guru Purnima — 4 July 2031
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2031
- Raksha Bandhan — 3 August 2031
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2031
- Hartalika Teej — 19 September 2031
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 20 September 2031
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2031
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2031
- Sharad Navratri begins — 17 October 2031
- Durga Ashtami — 23 October 2031
- Maha Navami — 24 October 2031
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 25 October 2031
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2031
- Dhanteras — 12 November 2031
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2031
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 14 November 2031
- Govardhan Puja — 15 November 2031
- Bhai Dooj — 16 November 2031
- Chhath Puja — 20 November 2031
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2031
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2031
- Hindu Festivals 2031 →