This year, a rare coincidence of Bhadra and full lunar eclipse is taking place during the festival of Holi, due to which there is confusion among the people. Holika Dahan will take place on March 2, while the full lunar eclipse will take place on March 3, the day of Dhulandi (day of playing colours). The inauspicious period (Sutak) will begin 9 hours before the eclipse, during which auspicious work and visiting temples are considered prohibited.
Holi festival will be celebrated on 2nd and 3rd March. Holika Dahan will take place on the first day, Monday, March 2, while colors will be played on Dhulandi day on Tuesday, March 3. However, this time the time of Holika Dahan has been fixed on the evening and midnight of March 2, in which only 12 minutes will be available for Holika Dahan on the evening of March 2 and 1 hour 10 minutes at midnight. One special thing is that lunar eclipse will also take place on the day of Holi.
Bhadra period during Holika Dahan
Bhadra Kaal will start at 5:55 pm on March 2 and will continue till 4:28 am on March 3. This year, Bhadra is considered to be in Bhooloka (earth world) and in Leo, hence as per the scriptures, performing Holika puja and Dahan in Pradosh Kaal (evening) will be considered auspicious and best. Donation and good works can also be done during Bhadra period.
Holi in the shadow of lunar eclipse
This year Holi will be celebrated under the shadow of lunar eclipse. The lunar eclipse will begin at 3:20 pm on March 3 and end at 6:48 pm. In Jaipur, the moon will rise at 6:29 pm and the eclipse will end at 6:48 pm, making the eclipse duration just 18 minutes. The inauspicious period (Sutak) will start at 6:20 am on Tuesday.
The eclipse will occur in Purva Phalguni Nakshatra and Leo and will be visible in India. Due to lunar eclipse, it would be auspicious to perform Holika Dahan a day earlier, on March 2. Thus, the festival of colors will be celebrated on 3rd March. Best time for Holika Dahan (Pradosh Kaal)
According to the scriptures, Pradosh Vyapini Purnima of Falgun Shukla should be celebrated without Bhadra. This year Phalgun Shukla Chaturdashi is on Monday, 02 March 2026 till 05:56 PM which is till 05:07 PM on the next day, Tuesday, 03 March 2026.
Due to full moon in Pradosh period, Holika Dahan will happen only on 02 March 2026 (Monday).
On this day, Bhadra will be in Bhumiloka (inauspicious south-west direction) from 05:56 pm to 05:28 pm, which is completely sacrificial.
Such as: – Bhadrayan Dwe Na Dutvay Shravani (Raksha Bandhan) Phalguni Alike Dahan) and. Shravani Nripati Hanti Gramam Dahati Phalguni ॥ – Muhurta Chintamani
Only 12 minutes will be available for Holika Dahan.
According to Dharmasindhu, Holika Dahan will be best during Pradosh Kaal on Monday, 02 March 2026 between 06:24 PM to 06:36 PM.
Conclusion:- If Bhadra lasts beyond Nishith Kaal, then Holika Dahan (except Bhadra Mukh) should be done in Bhadra Kaal (Bhadra Puchch or Pradosh).
On March 2, 2026, Bhadra and Bhadra tail are beyond Nishith period. Therefore, Pradosh Kaal is best for Holika Dahan.