Mumbai: People across India are gearing up to celebrate the festival of colours – Holi – which marks the triumph of good over the evil on March 24. But a day prior to the colour festival, people collectively gather to do Holika Pujan in the evening to initiate the process of Holi celebrations by offering prayers to the Gods.


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Check out the Holika Dahan Pujan timings here


Certain rituals are performed as people gather outdoors around a bornfire. This is called Holika Dahan. A puja is performed to seek blessings from the Gods.


Holika Pujan Vidhi


  • Take bath, wear fresh clothes.
  • Prepare a Puja ki thali which consists of a kalash of water, haldi, kumkum, chandan, rice grains, flowers, coconut, jaggery and gulal.
  • Offer these to the bonfire.
  • Chant the following Narasimha Maha Mantra -

उग्रं वीरं महा विष्णुम ज्वलन्तम सर्वतो मुखम


नृसिंहं भीषणम भद्रम मृत्युर्मृत्युम नाममि:अहम्


Ugram Veeram Maha Vishnum Jwalantam Sarvato Mukham


Nrisimham Bheeshanam Bhadram Mritoymrityum Namamyaham


  • Do parikrama or pradakshina (circumambulation) of the bonfire. Keep puring water from the kalash as you walk around Holika.
  • The coconut offered to the Holika is then distributed as Prasad. Have the prasad and give it your friends and family.
  • Once the bonfire extinguishes, take home some ash. Apply the ash on your forehead.