Narasimha / Vishnu
Holika Dahan
The bonfire on the eve of Holi
The night before the colours, a bonfire is lit for Holika — the story of the child Prahlad, who was carried into fire and came out of it unharmed because he would not stop saying the name. The festival's origin is a story about protection through remembrance.
Add Holika Dahan to calendar (downloads an .ics file)
A recommended mantra for this sacred day
Prahlad's protection is the Narasimha story, and this dhyana shloka is the verse that belongs to it — one of the few festival nights where the connection is the festival itself.
Read the Sanskrit and meaning on the Narasimha Mantra — Ugram Viram Mahavishnum page, or explore the full mantra library.
Date shown for New Delhi, India. Observance can differ by location because tithi, sunrise and timezone affect the applicable date — please confirm local temple or pañcāṅga timings if precise observance times matter to your practice.