Overview
- Kashi Vidwat Parishad and BHU scholars advised Holika Dahan late night on March 2 and Holi on March 4, citing sutak from the March 3 eclipse.
- Multiple panchangs, including Drik Panchang, recommend a March 3 Holika Dahan window of about 6:22–8:50 pm to steer clear of bhadra and eclipse restrictions.
- States opting for March 3 include Maharashtra’s Mumbai–Pune belt, major cities in Gujarat, Jaisalmer and Mangaluru, while Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jaipur–Kota, Nagpur, Bengaluru–Mysuru and several southern and eastern states plan March 4.
- City-wise muhurats have been published to guide local observance, with examples such as Delhi 6:39–9:00 pm, Mumbai 6:44–9:11 pm and Bengaluru 6:29–8:54 pm.
- Officials and media note widespread confusion, with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam calling the situation an “astronomical challenge” and urging people to follow local panchang or temple guidance.