Holika Dahan Puja

1. Pavitrikaranam

Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gato'pi Va | Yah Smaret Pundarikaksham Sa Bahyabhyantarah Shuchih ||

Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu ||

Pure or impure, in whatever state — whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord becomes pure within and without. May the lotus-eyed Lord purify us.

Take water in the left hand and, with the fingers of the right hand, sprinkle it over yourself, the seat and the puja items.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, Ganga water

2. Achamanam

Om Keshavaya Namah | Om Narayanaya Namah | Om Madhavaya Namah ||

Om Hrishikeshaya Namah | Hastam Prakshalayami ||

Sipping water thrice with salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava for inner purity; hands are washed with Hrishikesha's name.

Take a little water in the right palm (gokarna mudra) and sip it three times, once with each name; then say 'Hrishikeshaya Namah' and wash your hands.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

3. Sankalpa

Om Vishnurvishnurvishnuh | Shrimadbhagavato Mahapurushasya Vishnoragyaya Pravartamanasya Adya Shribrahmano Dvitiyaparardhe Shrishvetavarahakalpe Vaivasvatamanvantare Ashtavimshatitame Kaliyuge Kaliprathamacharane Jambudvipe Bharatakhande Bharatavarshe Aryavartaikadeshe (city/village) nagare (samvatsara) namasamvatsare (ayana) (ritu) (month) mase (paksha) pakshe (tithi) tithau (weekday) vasare (gotra) gotrotpannah/utpanna (your name) Namaham Sakalarishtashantyartham Holikapujanam Karishye ||

Say the words in ( ) — the Panchang and your gotra — yourself; ▶ Listen to sankalp asks you for them. Your name and city come from your profile.

I (name, gotra), at this time and place, resolve to perform this puja for the stated purpose.

Take water, akshat, flowers and dakshina in the right hand and read the sankalp (the app fills in your town, tithi, name and gotra); at the end, release the water onto the ground or into a copper plate.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, dakshina (coin/money)

4. Ganesha Smaranam

Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha | Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah | Gandhakshatapushpani Samarpayami ||

O curved-trunked, mighty Lord, radiant as a million suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.

Before any puja, meditate on Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and offer akshat and flowers. (In Ganesha Puja this step is part of the main worship.)

Samagri: Akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, roli/kumkum

5. Holika Pujan

Asrikpabhayasantrastaih Krita Tvam Holi Balishaih | Atastvam Pujayishyami Bhute Bhutiprada Bhava ||

Om Holikayai Namah | Om Prahladaya Namah | Om Nrisimhaya Namah ||

O Holi, you were created by people terrified of the demoness; so I worship you — O Bhuti, be the giver of prosperity.

Offer water, roli, akshat, flowers, gulal, turmeric, jaggery, whole moong, batashe and a coconut to the Holika (pile of wood and dung cakes); remember the devotee Prahlad and Lord Narasimha.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, roli/kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, gulal/abir, turmeric, whole moong, kheel-batashe, coconut with husk

6. Kachcha Soot Parikrama

Walking around and binding the thread, one wishes for the family's protection.

Walk around the Holika 3 or 7 times, winding raw cotton thread around it; then offer water from the lota.

Samagri: Raw cotton thread, water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

7. Dhupa

Vanaspatirasodbhuto Gandhadhyo Gandha Uttamah | Aghreyah Sarvadevanam Dhupo'yam Pratigrihyatam ||

Om Shrinrisimhaya Namah | Dhupam Aghrapayami ||

This incense of fine fragrance, made from plant resins and fit for all the gods, please accept.

Light dhoop/incense and, ringing the bell with the left hand, wave the incense before the deity with the right hand.

Samagri: Dhoop/incense sticks, bell, matchbox

8. Deepa

Sajyam Cha Vartisamyuktam Vahnina Yojitam Maya | Dipam Grihana Devesha Trailokyatimirapaham ||

Om Shrinrisimhaya Namah | Dipam Darshayami | Hastaprakshalanam ||

A lamp of ghee and wick, lit with fire, that dispels the darkness of the three worlds — please accept.

Show the ghee lamp to the deity, then wash your hands.

Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick

9. Dahan & New Harvest

The first portion of the new harvest is offered to the fire and taken as prasad.

After Holika Dahan at the auspicious time, roast ears of wheat/barley in the fire, take them as prasad and walk around the fire.

Samagri: Ears of wheat/barley

10. Kshama Prarthana

Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Visarjanam | Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Parameshvara || Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshvara | Yatpujitam Maya Deva Paripurnam Tadastu Me ||

Anena Pujanena Shrinrisimhah Priyatam, Na Mama ||

I know not how to invoke, bid farewell, or worship properly — forgive me. Though lacking in mantra, rite and devotion, may my worship be complete. May the deity be pleased; the fruit is theirs, not mine.

With joined hands ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja; finally, releasing water, offer the fruit of the puja to the deity.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

11. Dhuli Vandan

A tilak of Holika ash is believed to ward off illness and misfortune.

The next morning apply a tilak of the cooled Holika ash; then celebrate Dhulandi with colours and gulal.

Samagri: Gulal/abir