Gandhinagar: The inauspicious Holashtak period will start from 9th March and continue till Holi which shall be on 18th March this year.

The Gujarati month Fagan has started from Thursday 3rd March. As per the Hindu belief, particularly in Gujarat, the auspicious works can not be done during the Holashtak, which is this year during 9th march to 18th March.

The duration of Holashtak is considered important for performing mantra jap (chanting mantras), tap and dhyan (meditation).

The vriddhi of fagan sud nom will be on 11th March and kshaya of fagan vad choth will be on 21st march, as per the Gujarati calendar. The Holashtak refers to the 8 days prior to Holi. The asura and king Hiranyakashyap had given many sufferings to his son Prahlada, a bhakta of Bhagvan Vishnu, during these 8 days, as per the Hindu scriptures.