Holi, or the festival of colours, is one of the most auspicious Hindu holidays, celebrated with great fanfare by Indians all over the world. So get your 'Happy Holi Wishes' ready for a day of colour, water battles, and sheer joy!
Holi happens on March 8 this year. They celebrate Choti Holi or Holika Dahan before Holi, a major day for Hindus commemorating the triumph of good over evil. The festival of colours begins the night before Holi with worshippers igniting the Holika bonfire, which symbolises the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and pleasure over sadness.
Holika Dahan or Choti Holi, also called Holika Deepak, occurs every year just a day prior to Holi or Badi Holi. But this year t here is debate as to whether it is falling on March 6 or 7? Just to clear all the doubts up, Holika Dahan this year is on the 7th of March i.e. Tuesday.
They celebrate the Holika puja during Holika Dahan or Choti Holi by burning a bonfire out of their home with their community. They burn Holika in the evenings or late at night to commemorate the triumph of good over evil, worship the location where the wood for burning Holika is harvested, wrap the wood three or seven times with white thread, and spritz holy water, kumkum, and flowers on it. During the Holika campfire, people also cook green grains.
Holika Dahan has a Shubh Muhurat that people usually follow. The Shubh Muhurat is expected to fall between 6:08 PM and 8:35 PM. This timing may vary from region to region and often people take the sunset into consideration as well.