Holashtak 2024: The Reasons Behind Why These Eight Days Are Seen As Unlucky

Hindu followers celebrate Holashtak, an auspicious period of days before Holi, with tremendous fervor and a list of dos and don’ts. Holi will be celebrated on March 25 this year. Holashtak begins eight days in advance of this celebration. Falgun Shukla Paksha Ashtai opens Holashtak, while Falgun Shukla Paksha Purinma closes it. It starts on the first day of Ashtami and continues till Holika Dahan.

Certain religious traditions hold that good deeds do not bring good luck on Holashtak. Many customs, including marriage, naming, housewarming, and Mundan Sanskar, are prohibited during Holashtak, according to Acharya Pradeep Lakheda, an Uttarakhand citizen from Chamoli. In addition, it is not recommended to do Yagya or Havan during the Holashtak era.

Hindu traditions state that today is not the time to make investments or launch new ventures. This is thought to increase the chance of losing money. According to Acharya Pradeep Lakheda, it is also recommended against purchasing new homes or any mobile or immovable property, like jewelry or vehicles, during Holashtak. In addition, it is not advisable to begin building homes at this time.

Pandit Lakheda continued, stating that the story goes that King Hiranyakashyap had his son Prahlad, a renowned devotee of Vishnu, killed on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun. Eight days before submerging his kid in flames, Hirankashyap subjected Prahlad to several torture sessions. Even after enduring such immense agony, Prahlad managed to become a devotee of his father, yet he remained on the road of devotion to Lord Vishnu. Hirankashyap turned to his sister Holika for assistance after failing to break free from his attachment.

The gods bestowed upon Holika a unique garment that would protect her from burning in the flames. To ensure that Prahlad would burn to death, Hiranyakashyap gave his sister the command to sit in the fire with him on her lap. Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad on her lap, as instructed by her brother. But Prahlad begged Lord Vishnu to intervene and rescue him. It is said that Prahlad was shielded from the flames by Holika’s unique fire-shielding cloak, which flew from Holika and wrapped him, sparing the little infant from the ashes of Holika. During those eight days, known as Holashtak, all of these occurrences took place. For this reason, eight days before to Holi, all auspicious acts are forbidden.