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Vishnu seated on the coils of the serpent Shesha, whose hoods rise behind him, with his two consorts on either side over the waters — a chromolithograph after Raja Ravi Varma.
Vishnu on Shesha with his two consorts — Chromolithograph after Raja Ravi Varma, c. 1890s

Vishnu (Prahlada's protector) & Agni · 30–45 minutes at the fire

Holika Dahan — the bonfire vidhi

Phalguna Purnima eve (21 Mar 2027)

In the simplest words

The bonfire before Holi, done right: the pyre, the story of Prahlad who wouldn't stop trusting Vishnu, and roasted grain shared around the flames.

The night before the colours, a fire remembers the oldest lesson: Holika's immunity failed because it served cruelty, and the child who trusted burned not at all. Around that fire, homes surrender the year's own combustibles — grudges, fears, the ego's dry wood.

Perform this puja

5 steps, one at a time, with the lamp, the mantras and the bell — on this screen.

Samagri — what you need

0/4 gathered

The vidhi, step by step

0/5 done

  1. Puja before lighting

    At the built pyre before it is lit: roli-akshat, flowers, a pinch of gulal, the coconut, and the moli wound around it (3 or 7 rounds) with water poured at its base.

  2. Prahlada smaran

    The story said aloud in one breath — the boy, the pyre, the lap that failed and the Name that did not — with the twelve-syllable mantra.

    ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

    Oṁ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya

    Om, I bow to Bhagavan Vasudeva. Vasudeva is Krishna as the indwelling one — from vas, to dwell: he in whom all beings live and who lives in all beings. Twelve syllables long, the mantra is the Bhagavata tradition's whole path in one line — not a request but an address: turning toward the person of the divine and handing oneself over.

    Source: Bhāgavata tradition (Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa)

  3. The dahan at muhurta

    The fire is lit in the pradosh window after Bhadra passes (the panchang marks it). Parikrama — usually 3 or 7 — with water offered from the lota.

  4. Offer the new grain

    Wheat and chana ears roasted in the flame and shared — the season's first grain touched to the fire before the family eats it.

  5. Release the year's dry wood

    Silently name one resentment or fear and give it to the fire. Gulal on each other's foreheads after the dahan is Holi's first colour; the ash tilak next morning begins them clean.

Note: Dahan timing avoids Bhadra by firm tradition — city muhurats differ; check a local panchang. In 2027 the dahan falls on 21 March and the colours on 22 March (see the Holi entry).

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