Holasthak : The cursed 8 days before Holi

To celebrate festival of color and excitement people have to undergo 8 days of dullness, termed as ‘Holashtak’ that starts 8 days before Holi, for the year 2020 it starts on 3rd March and ends on 9th march.The good work started will have opposite result only donation or charity done will add positivity to the people.

Story behind Holashtak:

Lord Shiva went under severe meditation after ‘Devi Sati’ embraced death. So, in order to break His stillness Kamadeva, on request of other Gods, along with his wife Rati disturbed Lord’s meditation which triggered Shiva’s anger and He opened his third eye to reduce Kamdeva into ashes on Phalguna month of Ashtami Tithi. ‘Devi Rati’ was extremely devastated and prayed to Lord Shiva with severe penance for 8 days after which Lord became happy and granted reincarnation blessings. These 8 days are considered inauspicious and they end with celebration through colors.

Holashtak falls between mid-February to mid- March and starts from the 8th day, the Ashtami, of Shukla Paksha and continues till Purnima, the full moon day, of Falgun month. On the last day, Falgun Purnima, there is Holika Dahan.

Science behind Inauspicious Holashtak :

During Holashtak no auspicious celebration are undertaken because of the involuntary planetary position of the 8 planets. The planets undergo transformation, due to massive cosmic changes in the energy levels, leading to negative impact on all the endeavors so that there is no positive energy in the work performed, this period is very good for tantric activities.

Planets are the cosmic bodies that play major role in all human activities, with the shift in the energy pattern and planets have negative influence on them intern resulting in negative impact on human lives, soundness of mind and wisdom.

Violent Planets on each of the Holashtak day:

• 1st day (Asthami) – The Moon
• • 2nd day (Navmi) – The Sun
• • 3rd day (Dashmi) – The Saturn
• • 4th day (Ekadashi) – The Venus
• • 5th day (Dwadashi) – The Jupiter
• • 6th day (Tryodashi) – The Mercury
• • 7th day. (Chaturdashi) – The Mars
• • 8th day (Purnima) – The North Pode