Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, holds a special place in the hearts of people in India and across the world. Apart from Hinduism, it is celebrated with great splendor in Jainism, Buddhism and other religions. Holi is one of the most famous and major religious festivals of the Hindu religion, one of the biggest festivals after Diwali according to the Hindu calendar. People celebrate Holi with great enthusiasm and joy and play with colors.
Holi holds a special place in the hearts of people in India and around the world. It is celebrated as a festival of colors, love and victory of good over evil. Braj regions like Mathura, Vrindavan and Gokul are famous for their unique rituals. Holi of Barsana Latmar, Uttar Pradesh is also famous all over the world. The festival begins with Holika Dahan, where bonfires are lit after sunset. The next day, people are playing with paint and water.
Holi 2024: Date
Holi falls on different dates every year, mainly determined by the Hindu lunisolar calendar. This year, Holi will be celebrated on Monday, March 25, 2024, but the day before Holi, known as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi, will be celebrated on Sunday, March 24.
Holi 2024: Puja Time
Holi celebrations begin with Holika Dahan, also known as Choti Holi, on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Phalgun. This ritual involves lighting the fire to symbolize the victory of good over evil and the destruction of negative forces. If we talk about the auspicious time of Holi this time, according to Panchang, the auspicious time of Holi starts from 09:54 am on March 24 and continues till 12:29 am the next day.
Holi 2024: Rituals
The ritual of Holika Dahan is performed on the first day, in which a pile of wood is used. Among the items required for the puja are a bowl of water, cow dung, unbroken rice, incense sticks, flowers, raw cotton thread, pieces of turmeric, moon, batasha, gulal and coconut.
Holi 2024: Holi Puja Material / Samagri
A whole brown coconut
Akshat (unbroken rice)
A pot full of water
Agarbati and Frankincense (Agarbati)
Deep (oil lamp – sesame/mustard oil, cotton swab and brass or clay lamp)
Turmeric
cotton thread
Cow dung cakes and toys, Holika and Prahlad idols made from cow dung (Badkula).
Kumkum (Sindoor)
A flower
Wood logs
Beans and lentils
Batasha or any other sweet
Gull
Ganga water
Sunlight
Camphor
Bell
Homemade desserts and fruits
Basil leaves and sandalwood paste sandalwood
Holi 2024: Rituals
It is important to perform the ritual at the right time to avoid bad luck and suffering.
On the first day of Holi, the ritual of Holika Dahan is performed using a pile of wood.
The items required for the puja include a bowl of water, cow dung, whole rice, incense sticks, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric pieces, mung, batasha, gulal and coconut.
Cotton threads are tied around the wood and Ganga water is sprinkled with flowers.
Then the structure of Holika Dahan is worshiped using the mentioned items.
After completing the puja, the wood is burnt, which symbolizes the burning of ego, negativity and evil in one’s life.
Holi 2024: History and Significance
Holi has great cultural and religious significance in India. Apart from being a festival of colors as described in various legends associated with the festival, it also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. One such story is that of Holika and Prahlad, it is said that there was a king named Hiranyakashipu who hated Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu wanted people to worship him but his son Prahlad preferred to worship Lord Vishnu. Thus, the enraged Hiranyakashipu decided to punish the boy. He asked his fire-free sister Holika to sit with Prahlad in the fire. As he did so, the fire killed Holika but left Prahlad safe. Lord Vishnu then assumed the form of Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashipu.