Holi 2026होली
Holi 2026 is on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with Holika Dahan on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The story of Prahlad and Holika, the colours of Krishna and Radha, and how Holi is celebrated.
Never miss a festival or vrat
One email each Sunday: the week’s festivals and vrats, with dates verified for your region. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Holi 2026: all the dates
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Holika Dahan | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
| Holi (Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi) | Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
The story of Holi
Holi begins the evening before, with the fire of Holika Dahan. The demon king Hiranyakashipu demanded to be worshipped as god, but his own son Prahlad would speak no name except Vishnu. The king’s sister Holika, immune to fire, carried the boy into the flames; the boy came out untouched and Holika burned. The full katha of Prahlad and Narasimha is here. Every Holika bonfire is that same declaration: bhakti outlives every fire built against it.
The morning after belongs to colour. In Vraja, young Krishna, teasing and beloved, complained to Yashoda that Radha was fair while he was dark; his mother laughed and told him to colour Radha’s face with whatever shade he wished. From that day of gulal in Barsana and Vrindavan comes Rangwali Holi, when every face is every colour and no stranger remains a stranger.
How Holi is celebrated
| Holika Dahan | the bonfire is lit in the evening with parikrama, roasted grain and prayers that the coming year burn away what is false. |
| Rang | gulal and water colours from morning, with pichkaris for the children and no rank or age spared. |
| Sweets | gujiya, thandai and festive food shared from house to house. |
| Milan | by evening, clean clothes and Holi Milan: embraces that end old quarrels. |
Barsana plays Lathmar Holi, Vrindavan showers phoolon ki Holi, Bengal sings Dol Jatra on the swing of Krishna, and Maharashtra continues to Rang Panchami five days later.
Holi checklist: what to arrange in advance
The non-perishable samagri you can order ahead of the day. Each link opens an Amazon search for that item in your own country’s store.
Fresh items, flowers, fruit, sweets and leaves, are best bought from your local market on the day.
As an Amazon Associate, Bhakti Angan earns from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi is on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with Holika Dahan on the evening of Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
What time is Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is done in the Pradosh window after sunset, avoiding Bhadra. The exact muhurat depends on your city: check the daily Panchang for your local window.
Why do we play colours on Holi?
The colours come from the leela of Krishna and Radha in Vraja, and the festival itself marks the burning of Holika and the arrival of spring: colour is its language of joy and equality.
What is the story of Holika and Prahlad?
Prahlad, son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, would worship only Vishnu. Holika, immune to fire, sat with him in the flames; her immunity failed and the devotee walked out unharmed. Vishnu later appeared as Narasimha to end the tyrant himself.
Put the countdown on your home screen. The free Bhakti Angan widget counts down to every festival, with dates verified for your region, plus the daily Panchang, darshan and japa counter.
Dates are verified against authoritative Panchang sources (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Traditions vary by family and region; for muhurat and puja vidhi please also consult your family panditji.