Thu Mar 13 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Holi Celebrations Begin Amidst Bhadra’s Shadow
**New Delhi, March 13** – Holi festivities commenced today with Holika Dahan, the symbolic burning of Holika, representing the triumph of good over evil. However, this year’s celebrations are marked by the presence of Bhadra, an inauspicious time period in Hindu astrology.
Bhadra’s shadow will fall over the Holika Dahan ceremony, commencing at 10:35 AM today and lasting until 11:26 PM. Consequently, the auspicious Holika Dahan rituals will only be performed after 11:26 PM tonight. Astrologers advise adhering to this timing.
The main Holika Dahan ceremony will begin at 11:26 PM on March 13 and conclude at 12:30 AM on March 14. The ritual involves building a bonfire from wood, cow dung cakes, and wheat stalks, with the ashes later used for tilak (a sacred mark). Devotees offer prayers and perform parikrama (circumambulation) around the bonfire.
Holi, the festival of colours, will be celebrated tomorrow, March 14. The festival’s significance lies in its celebration of the victory of Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, over his aunt Holika, as depicted in Hindu mythology.
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