Holika Dahan 2025: Celebrate the Festival of Victory of Good over Evil!

Like every other Hindu Festival rooted in mythology has a certain significance and symbolism, Holika Dahan is celebrated to mark the end of evil and celebrate the victory over negativity. Holika Dahan 2025 will be celebrated on the 13th of March, a day before Holi. Also known as Jalanewali Holi or Chhoti Holi, the festival is celebrated by dancing around a bonfire (a symbol of burning the demoness, Holika).

To help you understand Holika Dahan and learn more about the rituals and celebrations, here is a detailed post on the festival not just to guide you but also how you can celebrate the occasion if you are planning a trip on a long weekend in March 2025.

Date and Timings for Holika Dahan 2025

Holika Dahan is celebrated on Holi Eve by lighting a bonfire and following specific rituals. Holika Dahan 2025 will be celebrated on 13th March. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the auspicious Holika Dahan Muhurat will begin at 11:26 PM on Thursday, 13th March and will last till 12:30 AM on Friday, 14th March.

Mythological Story Behind Holika Dahan

According to Hindu mythology, Hiranyakashipu was a demon king who meditated to please Lord Shiva to become invincible. The Lord granted him five boons that could save him from death. He started ordering everyone to worship him. However, his son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to do so and continued worshipping the deity. He tried to kill him multiple times but failed in every attempt. After all his vain efforts, he asked his demon sister Holika, to kill Prahlad. Holika, blessed with a boon that fire cannot burn her, lit a pyre and sat down in the middle of it with Prahlad on her lap. The event turned out to be the opposite of what Holika and Hiranyakashipu had imagined. She was burned down to ashes while Prahlad was safe and sound. After the event, Lord Vishnu appeared in his Narasimha incarnation and killed the demon king Hiranyakashipu.

The incident marked the beginning of the celebration of the victory of good over evil as Holika Dahan in most parts of the country. After the incident, Lord Vishnu was given the title of “The Protector of Good” for protecting his devotees from evil. People celebrate the day by burning huge bonfires and celebrate the next day by dancing, playing with colours and consuming traditional food.

However, in South India, this auspicious day is celebrated as Kama Dahanam based on the legend where the Lord of Passion, Kamdev revokes Lord Shiva’s meditation to save the world. As a result, furious Shiva burns down Kamdev to ashes with his third eye. People of the region celebrate Kamdev’s sacrifice to save the world.

Significance of Holika Dahan

Most of us relate Holika Dahan and Holi as a festival of colours and happiness, but there is more to its significance. The festival holds socio-cultural, religious and biological significance.

The lighting of a bonfire is a symbol of the burning of evil forces. It signifies destroying negativity and evil energy from one’s soul and surroundings. It is believed that the energy produced by the bonfire is believed to cleanse the human body both emotionally and physically.

Another significance of Holika Dahan is related to the sociocultural aspect where people of various communities come together and celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm. Building a bonfire and carrying out customs together as a community showcases communal strength and harmony.

Celebration of the Festival

Here are some of the ways people celebrate Holika Daha in several parts of the country:

• The festival is celebrated in various Indian states, especially in the north by burning the effigies of Holika on a huge bonfire built with wood, dried leaves and other flammable substances. People also follow the practice of hurling cow dung into the fire and shouting offensive words for holika.
• People dance around the bonfire and chant holy mantras to cleanse their bodies and minds as it is believed that the heat produced by the bonfire kills the bacteria in the body and cleanses it.
• In Gujarat and Odisha, people worship the god of fire and show their gratitude to him by offering him gram and stalks from the harvest.
• Furthermore, in some places after Holika Dahan, people put ashes on their foreheads. They also mix them with sandalwood and new leaves and flowers of the mango tree to form a paste and consume it. The ritual is believed to promote healthy living by removing laziness from seasonal change.
• People also take a little fire from the bonfire and bring it to their homes to purify their bodies and houses.
• There is a tradition of cleaning homes, removing dirty articles around the house and burning them.
• People sing folk songs like Phag and Jogira with Dhol, Manjira and other traditional instruments to rejuvenate their body and mind.

Places to Visit in India on Holika Dahan 

Holika Dahan followed by Holi, is a week-long celebration in some places, people gather from around the world to witness the festivities in these locations, so if you also want to immerse in the festivities and witness the traditions, here are some of the places to  you must-visit for Holi festival in India:

• Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh: Famous for its “Lath Maar Holi and Phulon Ki Holi”, the festivities in Vrindavan begin a month before the festival and continue days after it. The whole town is filled with colours and people dancing in joy and happiness. As it is one of the most popular places to visit in India on Holi, it is recommended to book hotels in Vrindavan online well in advance to avoid last-minute inconvenience. Moreover, if you are visiting the place on a long weekend, you can also explore the some of the nearby places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.

• Purulia, West Bengal: A small town in West Bengal, Purulia is famous for its Basant Utsav, organised by locals. The festival begins on Holika Dahan and ends on Holi. It is a unique experience to witness the fork art, baul songs and dance performances like Barbari, Jhumur, Chau and Natua. While visiting the place, you can first book hotels in Kolkata that offer private cab facilities as it is a five to six-hour journey from Kolkata.

• Pushkar, Rajasthan: Known for its energetic, spiritual and colourful Holi festival, Pushkar is one of the places to enjoy the festivals in Rajasthan, especially Holi. While visiting the city, you can also inquire at the travel desk of hotels in Pushkar about the special customised tours to witness the spiritual and cultural sides of the festival.

• Hampi, Karnataka: To experience the South Indian traditions of Holi, Hampi is one of the tourist places in Karnataka you can visit for the festival. People gather at famous temples, like the Virupaksha Temple, to attend two two-day Holi festivals starting on Holika Dahan till the next day of Holi. On the occasion, people take a dip in the nearby river Tungabhadra after playing with colours. The river is believed to wash away sins on this occasion.

So, this Holika Dahan witnesses the most unique celebrations in various places to visit in India famous for Holi festivities. For an affordable and comfortable stay on your trip, you can book hotels online from Treebo Club’s website or app across the country. These hotels are located near transit stations, famous temples and tourist attractions for hassle-free travel. Also, don’t miss the chance to make the best of a long weekend on Holi and start planning your trip.