The Holika Ropan aka Danda Ropan ceremony starts a countdown to one of the greatest four festivals of Hindu communities, "Holi".
Importance of Holika Ropan
One of the most significant days for North Indians, Maghi Purnima is the tithi (date, Hindu calendar) when some Hindu communities kick starts the rituals and preparations of the Holi festival. This way, the day and this occasion is an important affair for people observing Holi traditionally. However, many western parts of India avoid this ritual too.
Observance of Holika Ropan on Full Moon Day of Maghi or Magh Purnima
The Purnima or full moon night of Magh month is the auspicious day when Holika Ropan is performed. Like other celebrations of the great Holi festival, this Holika Ropan or Danda Ropan celebration is also observed as per the Hindu calendar on Maghi Purnima or Magh's full moon.
What Is Holika Ropan or Holi Ka Danda Ropan?
A danda (thick wood and thin woods arrangement) is installed this day. From then, the arrival of Holi is announced.
Holika Dahan
The next Purnima that falls after the Magh Purnima, is known as Holika Dahan day. This is the day when Holika effigy is burnt as the symbol of burning the wrong and evil. Holi pyre is lighted on this right next, Falgun's full moon.
Story of Holika, Prahlada & Hiranyakashyapu
Prahalad was a great devotee of lord Vishnu and the son of Hiranyakashyap and Kayadu. Hiranyakashyap was an egoistic king who assumed himself a God and threatened everyone to offer him their worship. His son Prahalad didn't stop and kept following the God Vishnu, which annoyed his father Hiranyakashyapu so much that he decided to kill his own son. When his no plan worked to kill the boy as Lord Vishnu saved him every time, he took help from his sister Holika.
Holika has a Vardaan (boon or power) that she will always remain unaffected by the fire and it couldn't burn her. As per the plan of brother-sister, Holika sat on the burning fire, taking Prahalada in her lap in order to burn him and come out safe. But their plan proved opposite to them and Prahalad came out safe. Holika got burnt in the fire that was set for Prahalad.
This way, 'good' won over the 'evil'. And from then, Holika Dahan is observed as a great day and its preparations start many days before. On Holika Ropan or Danda Ropan, an arrangement of danda (woods) is installed symbolizing the historic setup.
Muhurat of Danda Ropan or Holika Ropan
On a proper Muhurat at Magh Shukla Purnima's evening, the Puja-Archana (worship) is being done by taking rites and rituals into consideration.
Installation of Holika Effigy or Holika Danda
Purohit or Panditji (Brahmin) and his team offer prayers and singing to the earth. Then the place where Holika Effigy is supposed to be installed, that is — painted with pure soil and gobar (cow-dung). Then the religious ceremony is performed traditionally.
All the conducted religious customs involve Yagya too. It is also known as Yagna or Yadanya or Hawan, This Vedic ritual is performed by igniting the sacred fire, in which various obligations are devoted with spelling mantras (verses). These obligations are believed to reach God or Goddess directly.
Holika Ropan 2019
The year 2019's Danda Ropan is falling on Tuesday, 19 February 2019.
