Along with the festival of Holi, the results of the UP assembly elections are also here. With results on March 10, the new session of the assembly will start. On the other hand, Holi will be celebrated on March 18 (Friday). However, the 8-day period before the festival of colours is considered inauspicious and is called Holashtak. It falls on Ashtami tithi of Phalguna month, Shukla Paksha, and continues till Purnima, that is, Holika Dahan. The phase of Holashtak this year will start from March 10 and will continue till March 17th. In such a situation, there is speculation that only after Holi, the new MLAs, elected for the new assembly session, will take oath as ministers. However, there is no official confirmation about the oath ceremony or an official event about the same.
According to scientific reasons, negative energy enters nature from Ashtami tithi of Phalguna Shukla Paksha. Therefore, any auspicious work is often not done during this period.
What is Holashtak?
During Holashtak the nature of all the planets is fiery. Moon on Ashtami, Sun on Navami, Saturn on Dashami, Venus on Ekadashi, Guru on Dwadashi, Mercury on Trayodashi, Mars on Chaturdashi and Rahu on Purnima are raging. For this reason, these eight days are called Holashtak. No auspicious work including business, sale of a vehicle, housewarming, foundation worship, marriage etc. is performed during this time.
Mythological reason behind Holashtak
There's a belief that Kamadeva dissolved the penance of Lord Shiva. Due to this, Lord Shiva burnt Kamdev to ashes by opening his third eye on Ashtami tithi of Phalguna. In order to revive her husband, Kamadeva's wife Rati worshipped Shiva, due to which the Lord, after being pleased, accepted Rati's words and told the remedy.
