Holika Dahan 2026: Date, time, rituals, mantra and significance – The Times of India

Holi, the festival of colors celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated with immense joy and happiness. The festival is celebrated across the world, where Indian people live. Holi is celebrated on Purnima Tithi in the Phalguna month. This year, Holika Dahan will be performed on March 3, 2026 and Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi will be celebrated on March 4, 2026.

When is Holika Dahan in 2026?

Purnima Tithi Begins – 05:55 PM on Mar 02, 2026Purnima Tithi Ends – 05:07 PM on Mar 03, 2026

Holi 2026: Date and Time

Holika Dahan 2026: Significance

Holi is the major festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor. This is the festival of colors. The festival is celebrated across the world, where Indian people lives. Holika Dahan is also known as Choti Holi, where people perform puja to the bonfire. Holika was the sister of Hiranyakashyap, who was the demon king and the father of Bhakt Prahald. They both tried to kill Prahalad but he was protected by Lord Vishnu and Holika was burned in the flames.

Holika Dahan 2026: Worshipping Kshetrapal

Ksehtrapal is another manifestation of Lord Kaal Bhairav, who takes care of the area where you live and your home as well. This is extremely important to worship Ksehtrapal ji on the auspicious festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Dussehra. You are advised to worship Bhairav Baba by lighting a diya and offering halwa poori or poode as a bhog prasad. You should go to that place, where the Holika or the bonfire is placed and take a mustard oil, and an earthen four faced diya. Offer your sincere prayers to him and seek his blessings. Holika Dahan 2026: Puja Rituals

Light a four faced diya

For Ksehtrapaal, another type of Kaal Bhairav, people are instructed to light a four-faced diya with mustard oil between 4 and 5 p.m. along with some homemade sweets like Malpua or semolina halwa. It is believed that he shields his followers from all kinds of pain and the fear of dying young.

Offerings

Add milk, turmeric, roli, wheat flour, white holy thread (kaccha soot), akshat, jaggery, garland, earthen lamp, desi ghee, and incense sticks to a mixture of water.

Circumambulate

Perform the circumambulation seven times, wrap the Holika in a white, sacred thread, and present water.

Offer cow dung cakes

Offer cow dung cakes in the bonfire along with camphor, elaichi, laung, black pepper and other hawan samagri.

Apply Tilak

Where the bonfire is placed, apply the roli and haldi tilak.

Light a diya

Devotees should ignite incense sticks and a diya with desi ghee.

Offer bhog prasad

Sweets created at home, such halwa and Malpua, must be served.

Mantra chanting

“Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye” is one of the Vishnu mantras that devotees should recite.

Perform Puja

To do Puja, devotees must go to the location where the bonfire is ignited and present camphor, elaichi, dried coconut, and cloves.

Mantra

1. Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye..!!2. Ram Ram Rameti Rame Raame Manorame Sahasranama Tatulyam Ram Naam Varanane..!!3. Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare..!!