Holika dahan Muhurat : 18:31:00 to 20:29:40
Duration : 1 Hour 58 Minute
Bhadra Punchha :05:22:47 to 06:30:36
Bhadra Mukha :06:30:36 to 08:23:37
Holashtak is considered from the eighth day of the bright half of Falgun month to the full moon of Falgun. All the auspicious tasks are prohibited during this 8-day duration. On the day of Purnima (full moon), the bonfire ceremony of Holika Dahan is performed. There are 2 main rules for this ceremony:
1. Bhadra should not prevail on that day. Vishti Karan (which is one of the 11 Karans) is another name for Bhadra. 1 Karan equals to the half of a Tithi.
2. The Purnima should prevail in the Pradosh Kaal. In other words, Purnima should prevail through the next 3 Muhurats after sunset.
On the next day of Holika Dahan (also known as Chhoti Holi), there is this custom of playing with colors with fun and gusto. People apply colors on each other and give a hug.
As per the Hindu Puranas, when Hiranyakashyap (the king of the demons) observed that his son Prahlad worships Lord Vishnu, he got really furious. He ordered his sister Holika to sit in the fire while holding Prahlad in her lap. It is because Holika was blessed that she cannot be burned in the fire. However, things didn?t go as per the plan. Holika got burned into ashes in the fire and nothing happened to the Vishnu devotee Prahlad. In the memory of this event, there is this canon of performing Holika Dahan (burning the bonfire considering Holika). The festival of Holi gives a message that this is how Almighty stays available to protect His devotees.
The description of Holi has been witnessed for a very long time. There is a picture found from the 16th century in the capital of ancient Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi. This image shows the celebration of Holi. Similarly, at Ramgarh, close to Vindhya mountains, a 300 BC old inscription has been found, which holds the description about Holi. Some people believe that on this day, Lord Krishna had killed a demoness named Pootna. Celebrating His victory, Gopis celebrated Holi with him.