When Is Chhoti Holi 2025? Know Its History, Significance, And All About This Day

Chhoti Holi is a festival that signifies hope, positivity, and the victory of good over evil. Know the date, significance, muhurat, and all about this auspicious day.

Chhoti Holi is also known as Holika Dahan, which is a prominent festival among Hindus that is celebrated the night before Rangwali Holi. It signifies the victory of good over evil and involves much cultural and spiritual significance. This year, Choti Holi will be celebrated in March with Holika Dahan taking place in the evening after sunset.

When Is Chhoti Holi 2025?

According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the Purnima Tithi (full moon phase) in March 2025 will begin at 6:05 AM on March 13 and end at 7:53 AM on March 14. Holika Dahan is most likely to be performed during the night of March 13; that is considered the most auspicious time for the ritual.

Legend Behind Chhoti Holi:

Chhoti Holi is found deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, which states a story about Prahalad and Holika, as narrated in the Bhagavata Purana. According to the legend, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashipu who was granted a boon making him almost invincible. He believed that he was the most powerful being, and hence he commanded everyone to worship him instead of gods. However, his son Prahlad was the devotee of Lord Vishnu and worshipped Lord Vishnu. Enraged by his son's defiance, Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill Prahalad multiple times.

One such time, Holika, the sister of the king, has a fire-resistant shawl. She was instructed to sit on a pyre burning with Prahlad on her lap, thinking that she would survive and Prahlad would die. But when she sat on the pyre with Prahlad, a divine wind transferred the soul to him, and Holika perished in the flames. That event symbolises the triumph of good (Prahlad) over evil (Holika), and that is why this event is commemorated in the form of Holika Dahan.

Importance Of Chhoti Holi:

Chhoti Holi holds immense importance as it indicates the destruction of negativity and evil forces in somebody's life. The festival is a reminder that truth and righteousness always prevail. The lighting of the Holika Dahan bonfire signifies purification, allowing an individual to burn away his or her past sins, negative thoughts, and obstacles in life.

The festival reminds us about the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. In many parts of India, the devotees walk around the bonfire, performing parikrama with their offerings and prayers for blessings in prosperity and well-being. The fire is believed to purify the environment and fill people's lives with good energy.

Celebrations And Rituals Of Holika Dahan:

Holika Dahan is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. The bonfire is prepared by piling up wood, dry leaves, and some other flammable materials. An effigy of Holika attached on top of the bonfire serves to denote the evil forces and is set ablaze in the evening. Everyone starts gathering near the fire and prays and seeks blessings from the divine.

Devotees also chants hymns, along with parikrama around the fire, throwing offerings into the flames, such as grains and coconut. The ritual is supposed to spiritually cleanse people while securing for them prosperity and happiness.

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