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By Astrologer Praveen Kumar · 26 September 2026 · Updated 3 October 2026
Holika Dahan muhurat is decided by three panchang rules: the fire is lit on Phalguna Purnima, in the evening (pradosh kaal), and outside Bhadra (Vishti karana). The eight days before it are Holashtak, when auspicious ceremonies are avoided. This guide explains each rule, the astrology behind Holi, how Bihar celebrates with Phagua and Jogira, and simple Holi remedies and colours for every rashi.
Short answer: Holika Dahan is performed on the evening of Phalguna Purnima after Bhadra has ended. If Bhadra lasts through the evening, the panchang may allow the dahan in Bhadra Puchha (the tail end of Bhadra). Rang Holi is played the next morning. The exact Holika Dahan muhurat for 2027 must be taken from the Panchang for your own city — never from a generic list.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tithi | Phalguna Shukla Purnima (full moon of Phalguna) |
| Time of day | Pradosh kaal — the period after sunset — is preferred |
| Avoid | Bhadra (Vishti karana), especially Bhadra Mukha |
| Exception | Bhadra Puchha allowed if Bhadra covers the whole evening |
| Before Holika Dahan | Holashtak — 8 days from Phalguna Shukla Ashtami |
| Rang Holi (Dhulandi) | Next day, Chaitra Krishna Pratipada in the Purnimant calendar |
| Holi 2027 | March 2027 — exact date and muhurat per local Panchang |
Holi is the last full moon of the lunar year in the Purnimant (north Indian) calendar. The month after Phalguna is Chaitra, which begins the new Vikram Samvat in its bright half. Holika Dahan therefore works as a year-end purification — burning away the old before the new cycle.
The story behind the fire is from the Bhagavata tradition: Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, was placed in a fire by his aunt Holika, who believed she could not be burned. Holika was consumed and Prahlad was unharmed. The ritual honours the protection of sincere devotion and the burning of negativity.
Astrologically, Purnima is the night when the Moon is full and directly opposite the Sun. The Moon governs the mind, and a full Moon is considered a powerful time for prayer, charity and mantra. In Phalguna the Sun is usually in Aquarius or Pisces and the full Moon in the opposite sign — Leo or Virgo — often near the Purva or Uttara Phalguni nakshatras from which the month takes its name.
A tithi has two halves, each called a karana. One of these, Vishti karana, is popularly called Bhadra (भद्रा). On Purnima, Bhadra usually falls in the first half of the tithi. Bhadra is traditionally considered inauspicious for starting good work, and the dharmashastra literature on festival rules — such as Nirnaya Sindhu and Dharma Sindhu — specifically advises against lighting the Holika fire in it.
Because tithi and karana timings change with location, the muhurat in Patna can differ slightly from Varanasi or Delhi. Families in north Bihar who follow the Mithila Panchang should use its stated date and time. For understanding karana, Rahu Kaal and other daily divisions, see our Choghadiya and Rahu Kaal guide.
Holashtak (होलाष्टक) runs from Phalguna Shukla Ashtami to Phalguna Purnima. During these eight days the following are traditionally avoided:
What is fine during Holashtak: daily puja, Vishnu and Narasimha worship, Hanuman Chalisa, mantra jaap, charity, and Holi preparations such as collecting wood and cow-dung cakes for the Holika.
The traditional explanation is that the planets are considered agitated (ugra) on these days — one popular listing assigns Moon, Sun, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Rahu to the eight days in turn — and that Prahlad's suffering took place in this period. Treat this as custom; for urgent work during Holashtak, consult an astrologer who will check your own chart and the panchang.
Holi in Bihar is as much about music as colour.
Samagri: roli, akshat (rice), flowers, raw cotton thread (kachcha soot), a water lota, coconut, jaggery, turmeric, moong or chana, new ears of wheat or barley, cow-dung cakes (gobar ke upale), incense and a diya.
| Planet | Traditional colour | Holi colour suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Sun (Surya) | Red, saffron, orange | Orange or saffron gulal |
| Moon (Chandra) | White, silver | White or very light shades |
| Mars (Mangal) | Red | Red gulal |
| Mercury (Budh) | Green | Green gulal |
| Jupiter (Guru) | Yellow | Yellow or turmeric-based gulal |
| Venus (Shukra) | White, light pink | Pink gulal |
| Saturn (Shani) | Dark blue, black | Blue gulal |
| Rahu / Ketu | Smoky, mixed shades | Multi-colour; avoid black paint |
These are traditional, simple practices for Holika Dahan night or Holi morning. Rashi here means your Moon sign; read about the difference in our Moon sign vs Sun sign guide.
| Rashi | Ruler | Colour to start with | Offering in Holika or charity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesha (Aries) | Mars | Red | Jaggery and red lentils |
| Vrishabha (Taurus) | Venus | Pink or white | Rice and mishri |
| Mithuna (Gemini) | Mercury | Green | Green moong |
| Karka (Cancer) | Moon | White | Rice and white sweets |
| Simha (Leo) | Sun | Orange | Wheat and jaggery |
| Kanya (Virgo) | Mercury | Green | Whole moong, green fodder for cows |
| Tula (Libra) | Venus | Light pink | Rice and curd-based charity |
| Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Mars | Red or maroon | Jaggery and masoor dal |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Jupiter | Yellow | Chana dal and turmeric |
| Makara (Capricorn) | Saturn | Blue | Black sesame |
| Kumbha (Aquarius) | Saturn | Blue | Black sesame and mustard oil charity |
| Meena (Pisces) | Jupiter | Yellow | Chana dal and yellow sweets |
General Holi upay:
Gemstones are not a Holi custom; if you are considering one for a planet, wear it only after chart analysis and a trial period, as a wrong stone can do harm.
If you need to plan a ceremony around Holashtak or want remedies for a difficult dasha, Astrologer Praveen Kumar can check your chart against the panchang. Please share your date, exact time and place of birth, your city for the muhurat, and the event you are planning. Explore our Vedic astrology service and full kundali analysis. Also read about the next big seasonal festival in our Makar Sankranti and dahi-chura guide.
Book your consultation with Astrologer Praveen Kumar — Contact us today
Bhadra is the period of Vishti karana, traditionally considered unsuitable for auspicious beginnings. Dharmashastra texts on festival rules advise lighting the Holika fire on Phalguna Purnima in the evening after Bhadra ends. If Bhadra covers the whole evening, many panchangs permit the last part of Bhadra, called Bhadra Puchha, so local pandits follow the panchang's stated muhurat.
Holashtak covers the eight days from Phalguna Shukla Ashtami up to Phalguna Purnima, the day of Holika Dahan. During these days families traditionally avoid marriage, griha pravesh, mundan, engagement, new business openings and buying property. Daily worship, mantra jaap, charity and Holi preparations continue as usual.
Holika Dahan falls on Phalguna Purnima and Rang Holi on the next day, which in 2027 falls in March. The exact date and the Bhadra-free dahan time depend on when Purnima begins and ends for your city, so check the Patna or local Mithila Panchang closer to the festival rather than relying on generic online lists.
Each rashi is ruled by a planet with a traditional colour: red for Aries and Scorpio (Mars), white or light pink for Taurus and Libra (Venus), green for Gemini and Virgo (Mercury), white or silver for Cancer (Moon), orange for Leo (Sun), yellow for Sagittarius and Pisces (Jupiter), and blue for Capricorn and Aquarius (Saturn). Many people play first with their rashi colour.
Traditional offerings include new ears of wheat or barley, a coconut, raw cotton thread wound around the Holika in parikrama, roli, rice, flowers, jaggery and cow-dung cakes. Many families roast the new grain in the fire and share it as prasad. People also carry home a little ash, traditionally kept as a protective tilak the next morning.
Book a personalised session with Astrologer Praveen Kumar — Bihar's most trusted Vedic astrologer.
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