Holika Dahan is also known as Choti Holi is an auspicious day that is celebrated a day before the Holi festival because of which it has more importance, it is considered as a victory of good over bad. On this day Goddess Vishnu saved his beloved devotee Prahlad from the murderous plans of his father Hiranyakashyapu and his aunt Holika.
This happened on the full moon night in the month of Phalgun. Since then, whenever the Purnima or the full moon night arrives in the month of Phalguna is celebrated as Holika Dahan every year.
Materials required for Holika Dahan Puja
For the puja, You will need cakes made from cow dung, cow dung, some flower garlands, Ganges water(Gangajal)or clear water, yarn, five kinds of grains, Roli-Molly, Akshat, turmeric, Batashe, colours, fruit & sweets while conducting the Puja.
Holika Dahan puja Vidhi
- On the day of Purnima Holika Dahan, you should wake up early in the morning & take bath first after that you should take an oath to observe the Holika fast.
- In the afternoon properly clean the place where the Holika Dahan puja will be conducted wash that place then after cleaning you can arrange & collect items for Holika Dahan like dry wood, dried thorns, dung, etc.
- Then Take cow dung & prepare idols of Prahalad & Holika.
- Do Offer all the necessary items to the Lord & Worship Lord Narasimha.
- You can Start the puja at the night, light up the Holika, further one by one, or with the family members, you must take three rounds of Holika.
- Then take the name of goddess Narasimha and take five types of grains in your hand & put it into the fire.
- Afterward while completing the rounds of the holy fire Take a raw yarn to cover the Holika Also do offer an Arghya.
- In the holy Fire Put the cow dung, a string of dried gram, barley, wheat, etc.
- Then put the Holi colors like gulal in the holy fire and offer water to the Holika.
- At last, collect some ashes of the burnt fire and place it in your home you can also sprinkle it and put it as a tilak on your forehead.
This day is also considered a day of victory of good over evil. People who worship the holy fire offer water & grains to the fire. People also celebrate it as a Choti Holi and put some Gulal on the forehead as a tilak. The ashes of the holy burnt fire bring them back home and kept them on the sacred altar. Hawan is also conducted on that day by many people after Holika Dahan everyone start preparations for Holi (festival of colours & happiness)