Holashtak, which literally means eight days before Holi, began on February 24 (Phalgun Shukla Ashtami) and will end on March 3 with Holika Dahan. People avoid major auspicious ceremonies such as marriage, engagement, mundan, and griha pravesh during this period, as it's believed due to certain planetary positions during this phase, positive outcomes of auspicious rituals may be delayed/obstructed.