Holi is a celebration of the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’. People light bonfires in the evening and offer puja.Holi Puja done twise on the day Holi, first in the afternoon before bonfire, this is known as Thandi Holi and then in the evening at the time of Holika Dahan or Bonfire.
Why do we celebrate Holi?
It is believed that all sorts of fear can be conquered by doing Holika Puja on Holi. Holika Puja bestows power, prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Holika was created to ward off all sorts of fear. Hence Holika, although a Demoness, is worshipped along with Prahlada before Holika Dahan.
Holika Puja is suggested before Holika Dahan. Holika Dahan should be done at an appropriate time after consulting Hindu Panchang. It is important to perform Holika Dahan(Muhurat given below) at the right time as doing it at the wrong time might bring misfortune and suffering.
Holika Dahan Muhurta:
Holika Dahan on Thursday, March 17, 2022
Holika Dahan Muhurta – 21:06 to 22:16
Duration – 01 Hour 10 Mins
Rangwali Holi on Friday, March 18, 2022
Bhadra Punchha – 21:06 to 22:16
Bhadra Mukha – 22:16 to 24:13+
Holika Dahan during Pradosh with Bhadra:
Purnima Tithi Begins – 13:29 on Mar 17, 2022
Purnima Tithi Ends – 12:47 on Mar 18, 2022
Holika Dahan date and Muhurat in 2023:
Holika Dahan on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Holika Dahan Muhurta – 17:47 to 18:09
Duration – 00 Hours 23 Mins
Rangwali Holi on Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Bhadra Punchha – 24:43+ to 26:01+ on Mar 06
Bhadra Mukha – 26:01+ to 28:11+ on Mar 06
Holika Dahan during Pradosh with Udaya Vyapini Purnima:
Purnima Tithi Begins – 16:17 on Mar 06, 2023
Purnima Tithi Ends – 18:09 on Mar 07, 2023
Things Required for Holi Pooja:
One bowl of water, beads made of cow dung, Roli, rice which are not broken (also called Akshat in Sanskrit), fragrances like Agarbatti and Dhoop, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric pieces, unbroken lentil of Moong, Batasha, Gulal powder and coconut. Also, fully grown grains of freshly cultivated crops like wheat and gram can be included in the Puja items.
Rituals of Holika Sthapana:
The place where Holika is kept is rinsed with cow dung and the holy water of Ganges. A wooden pole is kept in the center and surrounded with beads or garlands of toys made of cow dung which are popularly known as Gulari, Bharbholiye or Badkula. Idols of Holika and Prahlada usually made of cow dung are placed on the top of the heap. Holika pile is decorated with shields, swords, sun, moon, stars and other toys made of cow dung.
During Holika Dahan, idol of Prahlada is taken out. Also four beads of cow dung are kept safe before bonfire. One is kept safe in the name of ancestors, second in the name of God Hanuman, third in name of Goddess Sheetala and fourth in the name of the family.
Holika Dahan Mantra and Puja Vidhi:
Keep all the pooja items mentioned above in a plate keep a side.Take
a small water pot with Puja Thali. While on the Puja spot, sit down such that either facing the East or the North direction. After that sprinkle some water on the Puja Thali and yourself while chanting following Mantra thrice.
ऊँ पुण्डरीकाक्ष: पुनातु। 3times
Above Mantra is to remember Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings before starting any auspicious work. It is also done to purify the place of worship.
Now take the water, rice, flower and some money in the right hand and take Sankalp.
ऊँ विष्णु: विष्णु: विष्णु: श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया अद्य दिवसे (संवत्सर का नाम लें Hindu Year Name) नाम संवत्सरे संवत् (year) फाल्गुन मासे शुभे शुक्लपक्षे पूर्णिमायां शुभ तिथि (Day e.g. मंगलवासरे) गौत्र (अपने गौत्र का नाम लें) उत्पन्ना __ (अपने नाम का उच्चारण करें) मम इह जन्मनि जन्मान्तरे वा सर्वपापक्षयपूर्वक दीर्घायुविपुलधनधान्यं शत्रुपराजय मम् दैहिक दैविक भौतिक त्रिविध ताप निवृत्यर्थं सदभीष्टसिद्धयर्थे प्रह्लादनृसिंहहोली इत्यादीनां पूजनमहं करिष्यामि।
By chanting above Mantra, one is reciting currently prevailing Hindu date, place of worship, his family surname and his name, including purpose of Puja and to whom Puja is offered, so that all the benefits of Puja are targeted to the worshipper.
Now remember Lord Ganesha after taking flower and rice in the right hand. The Mantra to chant while remembering Lord Ganesha is –
गजाननं भूतगणादिसेवितं कपित्थजम्बूफलचारुभक्षणम्।
उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वरपादपमजम्॥
ऊँ गं गणपतये नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
While reciting above Mantra, apply Roli and rice on a flower and offer it along with fragrance to Lord Ganesha.
After worshipping Lord Ganesha, remember Goddess Ambika and chant following Mantra. While reciting below Mantra, applying Roli and rice on a flower and offer it along with fragrance to Goddess Ambika.
ऊँ अम्बिकायै नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि सर्मपयामि।
Now remember Lord Narasimha by chanting following Mantra. While reciting below Mantra, applying Roli and rice on a flower and offer it along with fragrance to Lord Narasimha.
ऊँ नृसिंहाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
Now remember devotee Prahlada and chant following Mantra. While reciting below Mantra, applying Roli and rice on a flower and offer it along with fragrance to devotee Prahlada.
ऊँ प्रह्लादाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
Now stand in front of Holi with folded hands and request to fulfill your wishes while chanting following Mantra.
असृक्पाभयसंत्रस्तै: कृता त्वं होलि बालिशै:
अतस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि भूते भूतिप्रदा भव:॥
It means that some foolish and childish people, due to constant fear of blood sucking demons, created Holika. Hence, I worship you and seek power, wealth and prosperity for myself.
Offer rice, fragrances, flower, unbreakable Moong lentil, turmeric pieces, coconut and Bharbholiye (garland made of dried cow dung which is also known as Gulari and Badkula) to Holika. Three, five or seven rounds of raw yarn are tied around the Holika while circumambulating it. After that empty the water pot in front of Holika pile.
Holika is burnt after that. Usually, the fire from the public bonfire is brought home to burn Holika. After that, all men wear auspicious mark of Roli and take blessings from elders. People circumambulate Holika and offer new crops to the bonfire and roast them. The roasted grains are distributed as Holika Prasad.
Next morning, on the day of wet Holi, the ash from the bonfire is collected and smeared on the body. The ash is considered pious and it is believed that body and soul is purified after applying it. By using the ash of bonfire many remedies are suggested by astrologers.
Mantra While Applying Ash to the body:
वंदितासि सुरेन्द्रेण ब्रम्हणा शंकरेण च ।
अतस्त्वं पाहि माँ देवी! भूति भूतिप्रदा भव ॥
Holi Pradakshina Mantra|Mantra to chant while circumambulating (प्रदक्षिणा मंत्र):
यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मातर कृतानि च ।
तानि तानि प्रणश्यन्ति प्रदक्षिणे पदे पदे ॥
After circumambulating the Holika, People along with the priest chant Rakshoghna Mantra (रक्षोघ्न मन्त्र) from Rigveda (ऋग्वेद). (Rig Veda IV. 4. 1-5 and Yajur Veda I. 2. 14. 1-5. Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad 27)
Rakshoghna Mantra is chanted for removal of obstacles and miseries; for fulfilment of worldly desires; to ward off evil effects of planets, etc. Here we are giving these mantra along with meaning.
Rakshoghna Mantra for Holi Puja
रक्षोघ्न मन्त्र
कृणुष्व पाजः प्रसितिं न पृथ्वीं याहि राजेवामवाँ इभेन।
तृष्वीमनु प्रसितिं द्रूणानो अस्ताऽसि विध्य रक्षसस्तपिष्ठैः॥ (1)
तव भ्रमास आशुया पतन्त्यनु स्पृश धृषता शोशुचानः।
तपुँष्यग्ने जुह्वा पतङ्गान् असन्दितो वि सृज विष्वगुल्काः॥ (2)
प्रति स्पशो वि सृज तूर्णितमो भवा पायुर्विशो अस्या अदब्धः।
यो नो दूरे अघशँसो यो अन्त्यग्ने माकिष्टे व्यथिरा दधर्षीत्॥ (3)
उदग्ने तिष्ठ प्रत्याऽऽ तनुष्व न्यमित्राँ ओषतात् तिग्महेते।
यो नो अरातिँ ममिधान चक्रे नीचा तं धक्ष्यतसं न शुष्कम्॥ (4)
ऊर्ध्वा भव प्रति विध्याध्यस्मत् आविष्कृणुष्व दैव्यान्यग्ने।
अव स्थिरा तनुहि पातुजुनां जामिमजामिं प्र मृणीहि शत्रून्॥ (5)
Holi Puja Samagri List:
A coconut with husk.
A Kalash full of water (please avoid steel Kalash. Instead, you may use bronze, copper or silver).
Akshat (unbroken rice mixed with turmeric)
Deep (oil lamp – sesame/mustard oil, cotton wick, and brass or earthen lamp)
Agarbatti and Dhoop (Incense sticks)
Cotton thread (Kalava)
Turmeric (Haldi)
Kumkum (Vermillion)
Cow dung cakes and idols of Holika and Prahlad made of cow dung
Logs of wood
Flowers
Gulal
Moong daal
Batasha or any other sweet (crystalised sugar candy)
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