Holika Eve

A day of merriment, drinking and games celebrating the banishment of Winter and the return of Spring. It culminates in a ceremonial bonfire which burns the effigy of the four-armed demoness Holika Dahan.

Execution

It is celebrated as a day off of work filled with games of all sorts, romance and courting, feasting and drinking and merrymaking. But the centerpiece tradition takes place after dark, when an effigy of the demoness Holika Dahan is placed atop a tall pyre and a bonfire is lit to symbolically burn all that is evil and light the way into a fresh, pure Spring.
On Holika and the days leading up to it, people from all stations and walks of life wish each other "Have a Bright Holika!" or simply "Bright Holika!"

Observance

Occurs on the first full moon after the spring equinox