Holashtak- The Days of Penance prior to Holi

The observance of Holashtak is associated with the colourful festival of Holi. It refers to the eight day period just before the celebrations of Holi.

The period of Holashtak is considered to be inauspicious by most of the Hindu communities in Northern parts of India. According to the Purnimant calendar followed in North India, Holashtak starts from the ‘Ashtami’ (8th day) of the ‘Shukla Paksha’ (the period of bright fortnight of moon) and continues till the ‘Purnima’ (full moon day) of the ‘Falgun’ month.

Image Source: Prokerala

The last day of Holashtak, that is, Falgun Purnima is the day for observance of Holika Dahan in most of the regions. In the Gregorian calendar, Holashtak falls during the months of mid-February to mid-March. Holashtak is celebrated with full enthusiasm in Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and other regions of North India.

Holashtak 2024 is on February 27, Monday

5 months and 22 days to go for the event

Holika Dahan 2024 is on March 24, Sunday.
Rangwali Holi 2024 is on March 08, Wednesday.

2024 Holi Purnima tithi timing: -

Holashtak Observed For Nine Days In 2023

Holashtaka, the eight-day period from the date of Shukla Paksha Ashtami of the Hindu month of Phalgun is considered inauspicious. This period is considered to be forbidden for anything auspicious such as marriage, house warming, or even the beginning of a new professional venture. On the eighth day, Holashtak ends with Holika Dahan that is performed at the Pradosh Kaal of Phalgun Purnima.

This year, Phalgun Purnima will be from March 6th, 2023 to March 7th, 2023, while apparently, Bhadra (Vishti) Karan will be in effect during the Pradosh Kal of March 6th, 2023. It is forbidden to perform auspicious events in the Bhadra Karan. For this reason, instead of March 6th, Holika Dahan will be performed in the Pradosh Kaal of March 7th in 2023.

Holashtaka ends by setting Holika on fire, a ritual commemorating Holika Dahan that will be performed on the second day of the full moon this year, on March 7th, 2023. Hence, in 2023, Holashtaka is observed for nine days, instead of eight.

Rituals during Holashtak:

With the start of Holashtak, people start decorating the branch of a tree using colourful pieces of clothes. Each individual ties a piece of cloth on the branch and it is then finally buried in the ground. Few communities even burn these pieces of clothes during Holika Dahan.

Image Source: Prokerala

Also on the beginning day of Holashtak, Falgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami, and a place is chosen for Holika Dahan. On each day small sticks are gathered and collected at the place of Holika Dahan.

The 9-day festival of Holi finally comes to end on the day of ‘Dhuleti’.
The day of Holashtak is ideal for doing ‘Daan’ or offering donations. During this time one must generously donate clothes, grains, money and other essential commodities as per their financial status.

Holi Specials: Misc Pics on Holi Fun. Take a Look!

Important Timings On Holashtak 2024

Significance of Holashtak:

Holashtak is a word made from two different words, ‘Holi’ and ‘Ashtak’ (8th day) implying the eight days of Holi. In the Hindu community, the period of Holashtak is considered to be unfavourable.

Therefore auspicious ceremonies like marriages, child naming sanskar, housewarming and any other 16 Hindu Sanskars or rituals are avoided during this period. In some communities people even do not prefer starting a new business venture during the Holashtak period.

Image Source: Prokerala

There are certain reasons why the period of Holashtak is considered inauspicious. Three of them are as follows:

For one, it is believed that the planets of religious significance like the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Venus undergo transformations and it is unfavourable to auspicious activities because of uncertainty of the results.

As per a legend claimed by the Vishnu Puran and the Bhagvata Puran, the king of demons, Hiranyakashipu warned his son Prahlada against worshiping Lord Vishnu. Despite the warning, Prahlada continued to worship the Lord with full devotion and steadfast loyalty. This angered Hiranyakashipu so much that he began torturing Prahlada to the extent that he even tried to kill his son. He abused Prahlada for eight days, from Ashtami to Purnima of the Hindu Phalgun month. Hiranyakashipu later entrusted his sister, Holika to kill Prahlada. Holika was born with a blessing that she would never get harmed by fire. She grabbed Prahlada on her lap and sat on fire with the intention of killing him. However, Prahlada was protected by Lord Vishnu for his undying faith and devotion. He came out completely unharmed while Holika died in the fire. The eight days before the Holika Dahan incident that marked the torture of Prahlada is called the Holashtak, and is considered inauspicious and unfavorable in the Hindu religion.

In another legend according to the Shiv Puran, Lord Shiva chose to enter a meditational trance soon after Sati embraced death by fire. She was later reborn as Goddess Parvati who wished to marry Lord Shiva, but he resorted to meditation and ignored her feelings. The heavenly Lord of love and carnal desires, Lord Kama Deva was summoned to arouse passion in Lord Shiva so that he would agree to marry Goddess Parvati. Lord Kama Deva struck Lord Shiva with Kamabana to arouse feelings in him which, however, disturbed Lord Shiva in his meditation. This angered him and he opened his third eye at Kama Deva, reducing him to ashes on the day of Phalgun Ashtami. Lord Kama Deva’s wife Rati, who was a faithful devotee of Lord Shiva, prayed to him for her husband. This earned Lord Shiva’s pity, and he later revived Lord Kama Deva from the ashes. This period has been considered as Holashtak ever since.

The period of Holashtak is considered to be very favourable for Tantriks as they can easily achieve their goals through ‘Saadhna’. The celebrations of Holi start with the beginning of Holashtak and come to an end on ‘Dhuleti’, the day following Falgun Purnima.

Holashtak festival dates between 2020 & 2030

Other Related Festivals