-Seema Kumari
The festival of colors ‘Holi’ will be celebrated on March 18 this year. According to astrology, Holashtak starts exactly 8 days before Holi which lasts till Holika Dahan. According to the beliefs, any auspicious work like marriage, shaving, house entry, purchase of house and vehicle etc. is forbidden for 8 days of Holashtak. Although these eight days are considered very auspicious in terms of worship.
It is believed that, at the time of Holashtak i.e. 8 days before Holi, the nature of all the planets remains fiery. This position of planets is not considered auspicious for auspicious work. According to the beliefs, the auspicious work done during this period does not bring full merit. Let us know when ‘Holashtak’ is starting and when will it end.
Holashtak will be from 10 March 2022, Thursday to 17 March 2022, Thursday. It is believed that doing any auspicious work during this period is inauspicious. The preparations for Holi and Holika Dahan start from Holashtak.
There is a mythological story behind not doing auspicious work on the eight days of Holashtak, according to which Kamadeva was burnt to ashes on Falgun Shukla Ashtami Tithi due to Kamadeva breaking the penance of Lord Shiva. According to another legend, King Hiranyakashipu, along with his sister Holika, had tortured their son Prahlad during these eight days in order to divert his son from the devotion of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Holashtak period is considered inauspicious for performing auspicious tasks like marriage, home entry, shaving ceremony etc.