Holi is a grand festival which is celebrated all over the country with great enthusiasm. People who are Hindus or Sanatanis and who live in foreign countries also celebrate Holi and they often wants to know simple holi pujan vidhi because Holi is not about applying colors or dancing only, there are some rituals which need to be performed on this day to get the blessings of gods and goddess.
Holi 2025 will be celebrated on 13th March and 14th March. On 13th March the choti holi will be celebrated and on 14th March “rang ki holi” will be celebrated. In this article we are telling very simple holi pujan vidhi or rituals that anyone can perform. So lets have a look at the rituals.
Table of Contents
Holi Sthapna Vidhi (Morning Rituals)
- Draw a chowk (sacred design) using wheat flour and turmeric at the designated spot for Holi Sthapna.
- Light a diya on the chowk and offer roli, haldi, and chawal to the diya.
- At home, offer haldi and tilak (roli) to the Holika Mata idol or mound. Sprinkle some gulal on it.
- Offer mauli (sacred thread) or a small chunni as a symbolic dress for Holika Mata.
- Place a garland of sugar candies or batashe (sweets) on Holika Mata.
- Offer wheat or gram stalks (baliya) to Holika Mata.
- Then, offer sweets like jaggery, batashe, or any prepared sweets.
- Offer homemade dishes like halwa or puri to Holika Mata.
- Sprinkle red, yellow, and pink gulal on Holika Mata as a mark of devotion.
- Place a garland of badkulle on Holika Mata. Apply haldi and roli on the badkulle.
- Show the lit diya to Holika Mata to symbolize purity and light.
- Perform 5, 7, 9, or 11 parikramas of Holika Mata. As you walk, tie janeu (sacred thread) or mauli threads around Holika Mata.
- Sprinkle milk and water on the ground during parikrama as an offering.
- Women apply mehendi on their hands and wear their wedding chunni or odhani during the puja.
Holi Pujan Vidhi (Evening Rituals)
- The eldest male member of the household lights the Holika bonfire. Use camphor to ignite the fire while chanting the names of Holika Mata, Bhakt Prahlad, and Lord Narasimha.
- Pray to the divine for the destruction of evil and the victory of good over bad.
- Once the fire catches, offer hawan samagri, cloves (long), betel nuts (supari), and cardamom (elaichi) into the flames.
- Sprinkle gulal on the fire.
- Roast wheat or gram stalks (baliya) in the fire. Also, roast papad as a symbolic offering.
- there is a communal Holika Dahan, bring a lit stick from the large fire to ignite your home’s Holi setup. Follow the same steps as above for offerings.
Holika Dahan Vidhi (Final Rituals)
- Perform 5, 7, or 9 parikramas around the bonfire. Male members are also required to do parikramas of the communal holika mata as well.
- The women of the household pour water near Holika Mata three times as a concluding step of the puja.
To know the complete story why Holika Dahan is performed read our article here.
Holika Puja RItuals Do’s and Don’t
Morning Puja
- The morning prayer for Holi is performed by the women of the house.
- Women offer haldi, roli, chawal, gulal, and chunni or mauli to Ghar ki Holi (the small Holika setup at home) and the Badi Holi (the main Holika in the society).
- Offerings made include:
- Sugar candies (batashe) garlands.
- Grains like wheat or gram stalks (baliya).
- Homemade food like halwa or puri.
- Sprinkling of colors (gulal) on the Holika.After offering these items, women perform parikrama (circumambulation) around Holika Mata while sprinkling milk and water on the ground.
Evening/Night Puja Before Holi Prajwalan
- In the evening, a similar puja is conducted, but with some key differences:
- Women do not perform parikrama during the evening puja.
- The eldest male member of the household or society takes responsibility for lighting the Holika bonfire.
- Offerings of hawan samagri, cloves, supari, elaichi, and gulal are made into the flames after it is lit.
Holi Prajwalan (Lighting the Fire)
- Society’s Badi Holi:
- If a Badi Holi has been lit in the community or society, the flame from this bonfire is brought home to light the Ghar ki Holi.
- Important Rule: Use the flame from the Badi Holi; do not use matchsticks or other means to light the home bonfire.
- When Badi Holi is Not Lit:
- If no Badi Holi is lit in the society, the Ghar ki Holi can be ignited using camphor and matchsticks.