Married women in the family adorn Holika with all the visual markers of a married woman. This includes items of solah shringar, which comprise 16 pieces of jewellery and accessories that complete the traditional look of a Hindu bride, placed on the effigy.
Women take out a procession, carrying earthen pots on their heads. They circle the effigy five times before breaking the pots in the fire. This tradition traces back to a time when ceremonial fires were carried in earthen pots.
Before starting any ritual, married women in the family bathe and dress in new Nauvari sarees (a nine-yard saree worn by Koli women). They then clasp their ears as a gesture of seeking forgiveness from Holika for any past transgressions.
After the fire has burned out, the ash is collected and scattered around the household to cleanse it of negative energies. Koli fishermen also apply the ash on their fishing boats and scatter it at sea. They believe this practice ensure the safety of their boats and brings a bountiful catch during the fishing season.
As a Mother Goddess, Holika is associated with abundance and prosperity, making her presence a joyous occasion of celebration. The preparations for Holika Dahan mirror those of a wedding, with homes decorated specially to receive the new bride.
Specific bridal items such as the mangalsutra (an auspicious thread worn as a necklace), a new Nauvari saree (a nine-yard saree worn by Koli women), and glass bangles are also placed on the effigy.
Close to midnight, logs of wood and cow dung cakes are arranged around the base of the effigy in preparation for the bonfire. Camphor is also added to expedite the lighting process.
Once all the offerings have been placed in the cloth, it is twisted, folded, and tied around the womb of the effigy. Several such pieces of cloth are tied around the effigy, each donated by a groups or families.
The final rituals are performed by the senior member of the family. In the past, when only one bonfire was kindled in the entire village, the task of lighting the fire was assigned to the patil (village headman).
Various farm offerings are made to the effigy of Holika, particularly coconuts, which symbolize fertility and prosperity in Koli culture. Coconuts are integral to all major Koli rituals, ranging from Narali purnima to wedding ceremonies and the Holika dahan rituals.