Today it is Holi in Bihar

It is Holi today in Bihar, while most of India has celebrated it on Thursday. Biharis are celebrating a day late due to some conflict with the traditional calendar which spans it to two days.

Some astrologers have also advised  not to celebrate Holi Thursday and to do so only Friday. “We are not celebrating Holi Thursday as it is not auspicious. We will celebrate it Friday,” Mahesh Prasad Mahto, a shopkeeper in Phulwarisharief locality here said.

Patna-based astrologer Nawalkishore Mishra said March 7 was the “Holika Dahan” day while March 9 was the day to celebrate Holi when people throw colour on each other.

“The gap between the Holika Dahan and Holi is due to astrological reasons. According to the “panchang” (Hindu astrological calendar) of Mithila and Benares, water colours come out on the occasion of “Pratipada”, the day after Purnima (Full-Moon Day),” he said.

Purnima would continue till late on March 8, the day following Holika Dahan. But Purnima is not considered auspicious for Holi. According to the Mithila Panchang, the date of watercolour Holi is March 9, Mishra said.