What Holi is
Holi is a two-part festival at the turn of winter into spring. On the evening of Phalgun Purnima, the full moon of the last month of the Hindu lunar year, a bonfire is lit: this is Holika Dahan, the burning of Holika. The next morning, the first day of the dark fortnight of Chaitra, people play with colours, called Dhulandi or Rangwali Holi in North India. The first part is a religious rite about the victory of faith over arrogance; the second is a celebration in which, for a few hours, differences of age and status are set aside.
Holi comes when the rabi crop of wheat and barley is ripening, and it has always been partly a harvest festival: ears of the new grain are roasted in the Holika fire and shared.
Holi dates in 2026 and 2027
Dates below are for New Delhi, from Drik Panchang. For the Holika Dahan muhurat in your city, check the Panchang.
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Holika Dahan | Tuesday, 3 March | Sunday, 21 March |
| Holi (colours) | Wednesday, 4 March | Monday, 22 March |
Why the date moves every year is explained in why Hindu festival dates change.
The story of Prahlad and Holika
Prahlad's story is told in the Bhagavata and Vishnu Puranas; the episode of Holika belongs to the later Puranic and popular tradition that grew around it. The asura king Hiranyakashipu had won a boon that made him almost impossible to kill, and he demanded that everyone worship him alone. His young son Prahlad remained devoted to Bhagwan Vishnu whatever was done to him. The king tried to have the boy killed by poison, by elephants, by being thrown from a cliff, and each time Prahlad survived.
Finally Hiranyakashipu's sister Holika, who in the popular telling had a boon or a cloak that protected her from fire, sat in a blazing pyre with Prahlad in her lap. The fire consumed Holika and left Prahlad unharmed. Her protection worked only when it was not used to harm another. Later Vishnu appeared as Narasimha, half man and half lion, and ended Hiranyakashipu's tyranny in a way that got around every condition of his boon. The full story is in our Prahlad story.
So the Holika fire is not just a bonfire. It stands for burning away arrogance, cruelty and ill will, and for the protection of the devoted.
Holika Dahan: how it is done
- Preparing the pyre. In the days before, wood and cow-dung cakes (often strung as small garlands called bharbholiye or gular) are gathered at a crossroads or open ground. A stick representing Prahlad is often planted in the middle and pulled out before or as the fire takes.
- Puja before lighting. Women of the household especially worship the pyre in the afternoon or evening: water, roli, rice, flowers, raw cotton thread wound around the pyre in three or seven rounds, turmeric, moong, coconut, and a sweet made at home.
- Lighting in the right muhurat. The fire is lit after sunset on Purnima, at a time free of Bhadra, which is considered unsuitable for this rite. When Bhadra runs late, the Panchang gives a later window, or the time of Bhadra's "tail" (bhadra puchchha).
- Circling and roasting. People walk around the fire, offer grain and coconut, and roast ears of new wheat or barley and green chickpeas in it, then take them home as prasad. Some take a little ash home the next morning and apply it as a tilak.
Holashtak: the eight days before
The eight days from Phalgun Shukla Ashtami up to Holika Dahan are called Holashtak. In North India these days are traditionally avoided for weddings, griha pravesh, mundan and other new beginnings; devotional practice is fine. Holashtak ends with the Holika fire. See Kharmas, Chaturmas and Holashtak for how these pauses work.
Colours and Radha-Krishna
The playful side of Holi belongs to Shri Krishna. A much-loved tradition says the dark-skinned child Krishna asked his mother Yashoda why Radha was so fair, and she teased him to go and colour Radha's face with whatever colour he liked. Whatever its origin, the Holi of Braj, the land of Krishna's childhood, is the most famous in India and lasts far longer than one day:
- Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon: the women of Barsana, Radha's village, playfully drive off the men of Nandgaon, Krishna's village, with sticks, and the men shield themselves. The next day the roles are reversed in Nandgaon.
- Phoolon wali Holi: at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, Holi is played with flower petals in the week before the main day.
- Dauji ka Huranga: at the Dauji (Balaram) temple near Mathura, the day after Holi.
Holi is a good time for Radha-Krishna devotion: the Krishna Chalisa, the Radha Kripa Kataksh Stotram and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra are all sung in Braj during the season.
Holi across India
- Bengal and Odisha, Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima: Radha-Krishna are carried on a decorated swing (dol) and sprinkled with abir. The day is also Gaura Purnima, the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (born on Phalgun Purnima, 1486).
- Punjab, Hola Mohalla: on the day after Holi, Sikhs gather at Anandpur Sahib for displays of martial skill, a tradition begun by Guru Gobind Singh.
- South India, Kama Dahanam: in parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka the fire recalls Shiva burning Kamadeva, god of desire, with his third eye.
- Manipur, Yaoshang: a festival of several days around the full moon, with sports and the Thabal Chongba dance.
- Varanasi: Holi season in Kashi begins earlier, on Rangbhari Ekadashi, when Shiva is said to bring Parvati home and colour is played in the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Food and greetings
Gujiya, the sweet dumpling filled with khoya and dry fruit, is the Holi sweet of North India, along with thandai (a cooling milk drink with nuts and spices), malpua, dahi bhalla and kanji. In the afternoon, after the colours, people bathe, put on clean clothes and visit friends and relatives to embrace and share sweets. It is a traditional time to make up old quarrels.
Playing Holi safely and respectfully
- Use safe colours. Choose herbal or food-grade gulal; avoid industrial dyes, metallic pastes and engine oil, which can harm skin and eyes. Colours made at home from turmeric, beetroot, palash flowers or marigold are a traditional alternative.
- Protect skin, hair and eyes. Oil the skin and hair beforehand so colour washes off more easily, and never aim colour or water balloons at someone's face.
- Consent matters. "Bura na mano, Holi hai" is meant in fun; it does not excuse colouring people who do not want to play. Leave out elderly people, people who are unwell, pets and animals.
- Save water. Dry gulal play needs far less water than water guns and balloons.
- Holika fire safety. Keep children back from the pyre, avoid loose synthetic clothing near it, and do not burn tyres or plastic.
Frequently asked questions
When is Holi in 2027?
Holika Dahan is on Sunday, 21 March 2027 and Holi with colours on Monday, 22 March 2027, in New Delhi. In 2026 the dates were 3 and 4 March.
Why is Holika Dahan done before Holi?
Holika Dahan on the full-moon night remembers Prahlad's protection and the burning of Holika, the victory of faith over cruelty. The colours the next morning are the celebration that follows.
Why should Holika Dahan not be done during Bhadra?
The Puranic tradition regards Bhadra as unsuitable for this rite, so the fire is lit after it ends. The Panchang gives the exact muhurat for each city.
What is offered in the Holika fire?
Raw cotton thread wound around the pyre, roli, rice, flowers, turmeric, moong, coconut and homemade sweets. Ears of new wheat or barley and green chickpeas are roasted in the fire and taken home as prasad.
Are weddings done during Holashtak?
In North Indian tradition, no. The eight days before Holika Dahan are avoided for weddings, griha pravesh and other new beginnings. Worship and devotional practice continue as usual.
What is Lathmar Holi?
A Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon in Braj, where women playfully strike the men of the other village with sticks while the men protect themselves with shields. It recalls Krishna and his friends visiting Radha's village.
Can Holi be played with dry colours only?
Yes. Dry gulal is enough for a full Holi, saves water, and is gentler on skin and eyes than wet or chemical colours.
Is Holi linked to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
Yes. Phalgun Purnima is Gaura Purnima, his birth anniversary, which is why Holi is a major day in Gaudiya Vaishnava temples and in Bengal and Odisha.
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