Holi, the festival of colours, is one such festival celebrated by millions of people all over the country. Holi is also considered as a festival of fun, frolic and vigour in India. People celebrate Holi by smearing each other’s faces with colours, splashing coloured water on each other and eating various types of delicious sweets. Holika Dahan is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Falgun, the last month of the Hindu calendar and the next day is Holi. Holi 2023 falls in the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar. There are a variety of religious traditions that are associated with Holi.

Let’s get to know when is Holi 2023 and what is the auspicious time for Holika Dahan.

When is Holi 2023?

Holi, the festival of colours, will be celebrated in the first week of March 2023.

Holi 2023 falls on March 8, 2023, Wednesday and Holika Dahan falls on March 7, 2023, Tuesday.

Holika Dahan 2023 Muhurat

Holika Dahan is much more than just a festival for Hindus, it symbolizes the victory of good over evil. According to the Indian calendar, the full moon day of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Falgun will begin on March 6 in the late afternoon. Hence, Holika Dahan can be observed on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in the evening. The best time for Holika Dahan during Holi 2023 is from 6.24 pm to 8:51 pm.

Holika Dahan on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Holika Dahan Muhurta: 06:24 p.m to 08:51 p.m
Purnima Tithi Starts: 04:17 p.m on March 6, 2023
Purnima Tithi Ends: 06:09 p.m on March 07, 2023

Also Read: The Importance of Chaitra Purnima Vrat

Holika Dahan 2023 Rituals

A dry branch of a tree is used to prepare the Bonfire for Holika Dahan. The branch is worshipped before the Bonfire ritual happens. People decorate the place of the bonfire with rangolis and flowers. The devotees first worship Holika before the Holika Dahan ritual in the evening. Then various Mantras are chanted and the Bonfire is lit. Coconut, fresh crops, gulal, turmeric, jaggery, moong dal etc are put into the bonfire.

The devotees circumambulate around the Holika Dahan five times, put small wooden sticks in the fire and pray for their family’s happiness and prosperity. It is said that all the evil vices of human beings such as pride, anger, greed, lust, etc are burnt in the Holika Dahan helping the devotees to have a new beginning. In many places, there’s also a tradition of bringing Holika’s ashes home and performing a victorious tilak from it. In some places, people also perform a Parikrama and offer water to the holy fire as a part of the ritual.

Story behind Holika Dahan (Holika katha)

There are many stories related to Holika Dahan in the Puranas, but the most famous story is that of Bhakta Prahlad and his aunt Holika. Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu since was born in the house of Narada due to which he was inspired to devote his life praying to Lord Vishnu from his very childhood. Prahlad’s father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu did approve of this act of Prahalad. Therefore, Hiranyakashipu made various efforts to kill Prahalad but failed.

Finally, he pleaded with his sister, Holika, to enter the fire with Prahalad in her lap. Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a boon due to which no fire could burn her. Therefore, Holika coaxed Prahalad into her lap treacherously and entered the blazing fire. To everyone’s shock and surprise, Prahalad came out safe but Holika was burnt into ashes in the fire. As per legends, Holika paid for her sinister desires or motives in life. Even today the devotees enact the scene of Holika burning into ashes in many parts of India.

Some Interesting Facts about Holi 2023

On the day of Holika Dahan, burning the garbage taken out of the house in the evening in Holika (bonfire) removes the evil eyes on the house.
By offering coconut in the burning fire of Holika, great progress is seen in business and jobs.
After the Holika Dahan, bringing the left-out ashes into the home and sprinkling it in all corners helps to remove negative energies.
On Holi 2023, the devotees should also put betel leaf and betel nut into the Holika for a happy and successful life.
Farmers also apply Holi colours to the new crops to get the blessings of the Lord, wishing that the harvest season happens smoothly.
Chanting the Satyanarayan katha on the auspicious day of Holika Dahan helps the devotees to get rid of debts.
Worshipping Lord Shiva during Pradosh Kaal and offering Gomti Chakra on Shivling at the time of Holika Dahan before playing colours gives special benefits in business.

Also Read: Lord Shiva Puja according to Zodiac Sign

Holi 2023 Colours for Diffrent Zodiac Sign

There are some specific colours that can prove to be auspicious and beneficial to people of different zodiac signs. Here’s a list of some zodiac signs and the colours they should play with during Holi:

Aries – People belonging to the zodiac sign Aries are Mars-dominated. On the day of Holi, Aries people should play Holi with red colour.
Taurus – Although all colours are good for the people of Venus-dominated Taurus, playing Holi with silver or white colour is considered very auspicious for people belonging to the zodiac sign Taurus.
Gemini – Mercury has an effect on Gemini. It will be good for the people of this zodiac to play Holi with green and blue colours.
Cancer – The moon has an effect on the people of the zodiac sign Cancer. They should play Holi with white gulal.
Leo – It will be auspicious for the Sun-dominated Leo people to play Holi with saffron colour.
Virgo – People of the Virgo zodiac are also affected by Mercury. So they should use green colour to play Holi.
Libra – Venus has an effect on Libra. So Libra zodiac people can use white or bright colours to play Holi.
Scorpio – The energetic Mars also has an effect on Scorpio. People of the Scorpio zodiac should use pink colour to play Holi.
Sagittarius – Sagittarius sign is the master of Jupiter. People with this zodiac sign should use a yellow colour to play Holi.
Capricorn – Playing Holi with blue colour is best for the people of Capricorn, because of the effect of Saturn on this zodiac.
Aquarius – Lord of Aquarius is also Saturn, so people of Aquarius should also play Holi 2023 with blue or purple colour.
Pisces – The influence of Jupiter is also on the people of Pisces. They should also use yellow and saffron colours to play Holi.

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