Holi (Holika Dahan) होली
Falls on Phalguna Purnima · usually March
Holi (Holika Dahan) is celebrated on Phalguna Purnima, usually in March. It marks the arrival of spring and a night of purification, when the Holika bonfire burns away negativity. The following day dissolves barriers of age, caste and status in shared play.
Holi (Holika Dahan) at a glance
| Falls on | Phalguna Purnima |
| Usual month | March |
| Category | Spring |
The story behind Holi (Holika Dahan)
Holi celebrates the triumph of devotion and good over evil. Its eve, Holika Dahan, recalls the demoness Holika, who tried to burn the boy-devotee Prahlad but was consumed by the fire herself while Prahlad, protected by Vishnu, was unharmed. The colours of the next day evoke the playful love of Krishna and Radha in Braj.
Significance of Holi (Holika Dahan)
It marks the arrival of spring and a night of purification, when the Holika bonfire burns away negativity. The following day dissolves barriers of age, caste and status in shared play.
How Holi (Holika Dahan) is celebrated
- Lighting the Holika Dahan bonfire on the Phalguna full-moon night and circumambulating it
- Offering grains, coconut and new harvest to the fire
- Playing with dry gulal and coloured water the next morning (Rangwali Holi / Dhulandi)
- Singing, dancing and sharing sweets and thandai
Regional variations
Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana) is famous for Lathmar Holi; Bengal celebrates Dol Jatra/Basanta Utsav; and there are grand celebrations across North India, with milder observance in the South.
Festive foods of Holi (Holika Dahan)
Traditional dishes prepared for Holi (Holika Dahan) include gujiya, thandai (sometimes with bhang), malpua, dahi bhalla, puran poli.
Quick tips
- Attend or light the Holika Dahan on the full-moon eve
- Play the next day with skin-safe, natural colours
Choosing the muhurat on Holi (Holika Dahan)
Holi (Holika Dahan) falls on Phalguna Purnima. To choose an auspicious time on the day, open the muhurat planner for your city and check the day's choghadiya and the Rahu Kaal to avoid. For the exact date this year, see the panchang calendar, and for weddings or a housewarming near this festival, confirm the muhurat with a qualified pandit.
Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar and vary each year; regional traditions can differ by a day. For the exact date this year, confirm with your local panchang or pandit.
Common questions
When is Holi (Holika Dahan) celebrated?
Holi (Holika Dahan) falls on Phalguna Purnima in the Hindu lunar calendar, usually in March. The exact Gregorian date changes each year — confirm with your local panchang or the panchang calendar.
Why is Holi (Holika Dahan) celebrated?
Holi celebrates the triumph of devotion and good over evil. Its eve, Holika Dahan, recalls the demoness Holika, who tried to burn the boy-devotee Prahlad but was consumed by the fire herself while Prahlad, protected by Vishnu, was unharmed. The colours of the next day evoke the playful love of Krishna and Radha in Braj.
How is Holi (Holika Dahan) observed?
Common observances include Lighting the Holika Dahan bonfire on the Phalguna full-moon night and circumambulating it; Offering grains, coconut and new harvest to the fire; Playing with dry gulal and coloured water the next morning (Rangwali Holi / Dhulandi); Singing, dancing and sharing sweets and thandai.
How is Holi (Holika Dahan) celebrated in different regions?
Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana) is famous for Lathmar Holi; Bengal celebrates Dol Jatra/Basanta Utsav; and there are grand celebrations across North India, with milder observance in the South.
What foods are made for Holi (Holika Dahan)?
Traditional dishes include gujiya, thandai (sometimes with bhang), malpua, dahi bhalla, puran poli.