Holika Dahan 2026 in Pune falls on Monday, March 2, 2026. Puja window (pradosh) is 6:40 PM to 8:16 PM GMT+5:30.
Commemorates the devotion of Prahlada: his father Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika, immune to fire, sat with the boy in a bonfire to kill him — but by Vishnu’s grace Prahlada emerged unharmed while Holika burned. The bonfire symbolizes the victory of devotion and good over arrogance and evil.
Communities build and light bonfires after sunset, circle them, and offer coconut, grains and new harvest into the flames. It is the ritual prelude to the color-play of Holi the next morning.
The fire is traditionally lit during pradosh (shown here) while Purnima tithi prevails. In years when Bhadra overlaps the evening, some regions shift the dahan a day later — if it matters to you, confirm with your local community. Ashes from the fire are considered protective.