Holika Dahan 2081
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)05:58
- Pradosh puja muhurat18:10 – 20:34
- Fasting window (tithi)09:18 → 2081-03-25 · 05:57
- Parana (tithi ends)05:572081-03-25
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 2081
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2081
- Vasant Panchami — 14 February 2081
- Maha Shivaratri — 8 March 2081
- Holi — 25 March 2081
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 10 April 2081
- Ram Navami — 17 April 2081
- Akshaya Tritiya — 11 May 2081
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 8 July 2081
- Guru Purnima — 20 July 2081
- Nag Panchami — 9 August 2081
- Raksha Bandhan — 19 August 2081
- Krishna Janmashtami — 27 August 2081
- Hartalika Teej — 5 September 2081
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 6 September 2081
- Anant Chaturdashi — 16 September 2081
- Pitru Paksha begins — 19 September 2081
- Sharad Navratri begins — 3 October 2081
- Durga Ashtami — 10 October 2081
- Maha Navami — 11 October 2081
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 2081
- Karwa Chauth — 21 October 2081
- Dhanteras — 29 October 2081
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 31 October 2081
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 31 October 2081
- Govardhan Puja — 1 November 2081
- Bhai Dooj — 2 November 2081
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 2081
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 16 November 2081
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 16 November 2081
- Hindu Festivals 2081 →