Holi 2026: Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi Dates
Holika Dahan 2026 was on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 and Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
Holi 2026 dates and Purnima tithi
Holika Dahan: Tue, 3 March 2026 · Holi: Wed, 4 March 2026 (observed)
Holika Dahan is performed on Phalguna Purnima after sunset, and Rangwali Holi is played the next morning. In 2026 Purnima tithi ran from 5:55 PM on 2 March to 5:07 PM on 3 March (New Delhi). Purnima did not prevail at sunrise on 4 March, so Holika Dahan was done during Pradosh on 3 March and colours were played on Wednesday, 4 March.
Holika Dahan muhurat (New Delhi)
| Window | Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Holika Dahan muhurat, 3 Mar | 6:22 PM – 8:50 PM |
| Bhadra Punchha | 1:25 AM – 2:35 AM (night of 3–4 Mar) |
| Bhadra Mukha | 2:35 AM – 4:30 AM (night of 3–4 Mar) |
| Purnima tithi | 5:55 PM (2 Mar) – 5:07 PM (3 Mar) |
A total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) also occurred on 3 March 2026, the Phalguna Purnima. Families who follow eclipse rules timed the bonfire and meals according to their own panchang.
Significance
Holika Dahan recalls the legend of Prahlad, whose devotion to Vishnu protected him when his aunt Holika carried him into a fire; Holika burned while Prahlad was unharmed. The bonfire symbolises the victory of devotion and good over evil. Holi, the festival of colours, celebrates spring and, in the Braj region, the playful love of Radha and Krishna.
Rituals
- Worship the Holika pyre with roli, rice, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric and coconut, then walk around it and light it in the muhurat.
- Roast new wheat or barley ears and green gram in the fire and share them as prasad.
- On Holi morning, apply gulal and colours, visit friends and share gujiya, thandai and other sweets.
Regional names
Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan (eve), Dhulandi or Rangwali Holi (North India), Dol Jatra or Basanta Utsav (West Bengal, Odisha), Shimga (Konkan), Kamudu Pyre (Tamil Nadu), and Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon.
Panchang for the days
Panchang for 3 March 2026 · Panchang for 4 March 2026 (New Delhi).
Holi 2027
Holika Dahan 2027 is on Sunday, 21 March and Holi on Monday, 22 March 2027.
Related
All times are IST for New Delhi unless stated otherwise. Muhurat changes with your city’s sunrise, sunset and moonrise: check today’s Panchang for your location. Outside India the date can differ; use your local panchang. Sources: Drik Panchang (New Delhi), cross-checked with Free Panchang’s own calculation (Lahiri ayanamsa); AstroSage 2026 festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- Holi 2026 kab thi?
- Rangwali Holi 2026 was on Wednesday, 4 March 2026; Holika Dahan was on Tuesday, 3 March.
- What was the Holika Dahan 2026 muhurat?
- In New Delhi the Holika Dahan muhurat was 6:22 PM to 8:50 PM IST on 3 March 2026.
- Was there an eclipse on Holi 2026?
- Yes. A total lunar eclipse occurred on Phalguna Purnima, 3 March 2026, the day of Holika Dahan.