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Lord Vishnu (as protector of Prahlad)
Hiranyakashipu, a demon king, tried to kill his son Prahlad for worshipping Lord Vishnu. His sister Holika, who had a boon of fire immunity, sat with Prahlad in a bonfire. But the boon worked only when Holika sat alone — she was burned while Prahlad emerged unscathed. The bonfire (Holika Dahan) on the eve celebrates this victory.
Victory of good (Prahlad's devotion) over evil (Hiranyakashipu's arrogance). Celebration of spring, renewal, and the breaking of social barriers through shared joy.
Evening before: Holika Dahan — light a bonfire, circumambulate it, offer coconut and grains. Next day: Play with colours (gulal, water balloons), drink thandai and bhang, eat gujiya and sweets. Visit friends and family.
Pradosh Kaal (evening period after sunset) on Phalguna Purnima is the auspicious time for Holika Dahan
On this auspicious Phalguna Purnima, I undertake this Holika Dahan puja for the destruction of all evil, protection from negativity, and celebration of the triumph of devotion (Prahlada) over demonic forces (Holika), by the grace of Lord Narasimha.
Collect cow dung cakes, wood logs, and dry twigs. Build a pyre in an open area, placing a wooden post in the center representing Prahlada. Wind raw cotton thread around the pyre.
Place a water pot near the pyre. Arrange kumkum, akshat, flowers, coconut, and other samagri on a thali (plate).
Hold water and akshat in the right hand, state the date, place, and purpose of Holika Dahan, then release the water.
Circumambulate the Holika pyre 3, 5, or 7 times in a clockwise direction, pouring water from the pot in a continuous stream. Apply kumkum and offer akshat to the pyre.
Offer the flower garland to the pyre with prayers to Lord Narasimha for protection, remembering the story of Prahlada's unwavering devotion.
Narasimha Mantra
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्। नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्योर्मृत्युं नमाम्यहम्॥
Light the pyre at the auspicious Pradosh muhurta. As the fire rises, chant the Narasimha mantra and Holika Dahan mantra. The fire symbolizes the burning of evil and the triumph of good.
Holika Dahan Mantra
असृक्पाभयसन्त्रस्तैः कृता त्वं होलि बालिशैः। अतस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि भूते भूतिप्रदा भव॥
Offer new harvest grains — wheat, barley, roasted gram — and the whole coconut into the sacred fire. These represent the season's first harvest offered to the divine.
With folded hands, pray to Lord Narasimha and Prahlada: "As Prahlada was protected by his devotion, may all devotees be protected from evil." Recite the Prahlada prayer.
Prahlada Prayer
ॐ नमो भगवते महासुदर्शनाय वैष्णवज्वराय। महाज्वालाय सर्वरक्षोघ्नाय सर्वभूतरक्षोघ्नाय। सर्वज्वरघ्नाय दह दह पच पच नाशय नाशय हुं फट् स्वाहा॥
Once the fire subsides, roast new harvest grains (wheat ears, barley) in the embers. These roasted grains are then shared as prasad among family and neighbors.
Perform aarti of the Holika fire with a ghee lamp. Sing "Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki" — the aarti of Lord Krishna, celebrating the divine play of Holi.
Distribute gujiya, sweets, and roasted grains as prasad among all present. Apply the sacred ash (vibhuti) from the Holika fire on the forehead for protection.
Next morning (Dhulandi / Rang Panchami): Apply gulal and natural colors to each other, dance, sing Holi songs celebrating Krishna's leela with the Gopis in Vrindavan. Use water guns (pichkari) and colored water.
Narasimha Mantra
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्। नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्योर्मृत्युं नमाम्यहम्॥
oṃ ugraṃ vīraṃ mahāviṣṇuṃ jvalantaṃ sarvatomukham | nṛsiṃhaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ bhadraṃ mṛtyormṛtyuṃ namāmyaham ||
I bow to Lord Narasimha, who is fierce, heroic, the great Vishnu, blazing in all directions, terrifying yet auspicious — the death of death itself.
11x Japa CountHolika Dahan Mantra
असृक्पाभयसन्त्रस्तैः कृता त्वं होलि बालिशैः। अतस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि भूते भूतिप्रदा भव॥
asṛkpābhayasantrastaiḥ kṛtā tvaṃ holi bāliśaiḥ | atastvaṃ pūjayiṣyāmi bhūte bhūtipradā bhava ||
O Holika, you were created by the frightened children (devotees) seeking protection from the blood-drinking demons. Therefore I worship you — O spirit, grant us prosperity.
Prahlada Prayer
ॐ नमो भगवते महासुदर्शनाय वैष्णवज्वराय। महाज्वालाय सर्वरक्षोघ्नाय सर्वभूतरक्षोघ्नाय। सर्वज्वरघ्नाय दह दह पच पच नाशय नाशय हुं फट् स्वाहा॥
oṃ namo bhagavate mahāsudarśanāya vaiṣṇavajvarāya | mahājvālāya sarvarakṣoghnāya sarvabhūtarakṣoghnāya | sarvajvaraghnāya daha daha paca paca nāśaya nāśaya huṃ phaṭ svāhā ||
Salutations to the great Sudarshana (Lord Vishnu's disc), the Vaishnava fire, the great flame, destroyer of all demons, destroyer of all evil spirits, destroyer of all fevers — burn, burn, cook, cook, destroy, destroy — hum phat svaha!
Narasimha Kavacham
Powerful protective hymn from the Trailokya Vijaya chapter. Provides divine armor against all evil.
आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ गले में बैजन्ती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला। श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नन्द के आनन्द नन्दलाला। गगन सम अंग कान्ति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली। लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ कानन में कुण्डल, मोर मुकुट पर मंद हँसे। तन छवि श्यामल, अंग विश्व में चन्दन लेपे। कस्तूरी तिलक ललार पर, सोहत आनन्द केसरी के। विजयी ब्रज में आनन्दकन्द के॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ छप्पनभोग धरत नित जूठन तो ग्वालन सँग खात। अमर हों वे चरन छुवत हरि के, हस्तकमल से ग्रास उठात। उदर भरत हरि आप निछावर, गोपियन हित साँझ नचात। चरनामृत पीवत सब ही, मज्जन करत ब्रज के घात॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ जहाँ ते प्रकट भई गंगा, सकल मल हरणी अंगा। स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी मेरे हृदय में रंगा। श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की। आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ ॥ इति श्री कृष्ण आरती सम्पूर्णम् ॥
āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || gale meṃ baijantī mālā, bajāve muralī madhura bālā | śravaṇa meṃ kuṇḍala jhalakālā, nanda ke ānanda nandalālā | gagana sama aṃga kānti kālī, rādhikā camaka rahī ālī | latana meṃ ṭhāḍhe banamālī || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || kānana meṃ kuṇḍala, mora mukuṭa para manda haṃse | tana chavi śyāmala, aṃga viśva meṃ candana lepe | kastūrī tilaka lalāra para, sohata ānanda kesarī ke | vijayī braja meṃ ānandakanda ke || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || chappanabhoga dharata nita jūṭhana to gvālana saṃga khāta | amara hoṃ ve carana chuvata hari ke, hastakamala se grāsa uṭhāta | udara bharata hari āpa nichāvara, gopīyana hita sāṃjha nacāta | caraṇāmṛta pīvata saba hī, majjana karata braja ke ghāta || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || jahāṃ te prakaṭa bhaī gaṃgā, sakala mala haraṇī aṃgā | smaraṇa te hota moha bhaṃgā, basī mere hṛdaya meṃ raṃgā | śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī | āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || || iti śrī kṛṣṇa āratī sampūrṇam ||
Gujiya (sweet dumplings), coconut barfi, roasted grains (wheat ears, barley, gram), milk sweets, and seasonal fruits
Destruction of all evil and negativity (as Holika was burned), protection from demonic forces, purification of the environment, celebration of the triumph of devotion over tyranny, and ushering in the spring season with joy and brotherhood