India, Feb. 24 -- Holi is just around the corner and we're sure your social calendar is piling up with invites and plans which without a doubt promise colour and revelry.

That being said, today, we enter Holasthak, which directly refers to the 8-day stretch preceding Holi. Seeing as the much-awaited festival of colours is falling on March 4, Holashtak commences today, February 24 continuing up till March 3. As per the Drik Panchang, Holashtak always commences on the Asthami tithi of Shukla Paksha during the Phalguna month in the Hindu calendar, ending on the day of Holika Dahan. The story, as per the Drik Panchang, goes, "Hiranyakashipu tortured Bhakta Prahlada in various ways for eight days of Holashtak to make him abandon his devotion ...