New Delhi | Jagran Lifestyle Desk: Holi, also known as the festivals of colours, is one of the important festivals of India and is celebrated with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm across the country.
Holi, which is also known as ‘festival of love’, signifies the arrival of spring and the end of the winter season. People consider this festival as sign of repairing broken relationships. Holi is celebrated in the month of Phalhuna -- which generally falls in the middle of March. Holi lasts for a day and a night.
It starts one the evening of the Purnima which falls in the Vikram Samvat Calendar. The first evening is celebrated as ‘Holika Dahan’ -- also known as ‘Chhoti Holi’.
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On Holika Dahan, a bonfire is lit which signifies the burning of evil spirits. Holika Dahan is observed a day before Holi and is also known as ‘Chhoti Holi’.
Date:
This year Holika Dahan will be done on March 9 while Holi will be celebrated on March 10.
Timings:
The Holika Dahan timings are 6:26 to 8:52 pm. According to Drikpanchang.com, the Purnima tithi will begin at 3.03 am and end at 11.17 pm.
About Holika Dahan:
Holika Dahan is celebrated by burning Holika. It is believed that ‘Prahlad’, one of the devotees of Lord Vishnu, was saved by the Lord himself on this day from the asura (demon) Holika and thus Holika Dahan is celebrated by burning the mannequin of Holika. Prahlad’s story is testament to the power of devotion over the evil as he never lost his faith.
How is Holi celebrated?
Holi, which is generally observed in Braj region -- Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, and Barsana, is celebrated by people by splashing colours at each other.