Holashtak

Holashtak

According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Holashtak starts from the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Phalguna month. The main Holi festivities last for two days. However, preparations for Holi start eight days before the day of Holi. This day is known as Holashtak and it starts from Phalguna Ashtami during Shukla Paksha. During these eight days of Holashtak, Holi programs are organized in most of the temples of Mathura-Vrindavan.

It is noteworthy that the time of Holashtak is considered inauspicious for other auspicious events like marriage, housewarming, Mundan, naming ceremony and commencement of education etc. However, the impact of Holashtak is limited to some areas of North India. Places along the Vyas, Ravi and Sutlej rivers, all in Punjab, and the Pushkar area of Ajmer are affected by Holashtak. Yet most people in North India, even those living outside the mentioned places, avoid any auspicious celebrations during this time. The Holashtak is very less popular in South India.

Holika Dahan is a community event which is performed on the streets and squares. On the first day of Holashtak, people choose the place for Holika Dahan. The chosen place is purified with the water of Ganga water or other holy rivers and some dry sticks are collected and kept at the holy place. The ritual of collecting dry wood that has fallen naturally from the trees continues for the next eight days. By the last day of Holashtak, there is a good amount of dry wood at this place which is used to symbolically burn the demon, Holika.

According to the description found in Hindu scriptures, Hiranyakashipu tortured Bhakta Prahlada in various ways for eight days of Holashtak to make him abandon his devotion to Lord Vishnu. But devotee Prahlada remained continuously engrossed in the worship of Lord Vishnu. Ultimately, to save the life of Prahlada ji, Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Lord Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashipu.