Holi 2026

Tue, 3 March 2026 · Varanasi time (IST)

1. Day 1·Tue, 3 MarchMain muhurat · 6:00 – 8:28 pm

   Holika Dahan

   The bonfire night commemorating the burning of Holika. Light the pyre during Pradosh Kaal (after sunset). Perform parikrama and offer coconut, grains, and sweets to the fire.

   Sunrise

   6:19 am

   Sunset

   6:00 pm

   That day's panchang: Tue, 3 March

2. Day 2·Wed, 4 March

   Rangwali Holi

   The festival of colors. Play with gulal, abeer, and water colors. Celebrate the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Community gatherings with music and dance.

   Sunrise

   6:18 am

   Sunset

   6:01 pm

   That day's panchang: Wed, 4 March

Tithi

Purnima, then Pratipada

Nakshatra

Magha

Yoga

Sukarman

Karana

Bava

Paksha

Shukla

Masa

Phalguna

Tithi

PurnimaFrom 2 March, 5:56 pmUntil 3 March, 5:07 pmThen Pratipada · until 4 March, 4:49 pm

Nakshatra

MaghaFrom 2 March, 7:51 amUntil 3 March, 7:31 am

The next day, Rangwali Holi, is the festival of colors celebrating the divine love of Radha and Krishna.

Rituals

Day 1 (Holika Dahan): Light the bonfire during Pradosh Kaal after sunset. Perform parikrama. Day 2 (Rangwali Holi): Play with colors and water, eat gujiya and thandai, dance to folk music.

Varanasi's Holi is legendary. The celebration starts a week early with Rang Bhari Ekadashi at Kashi Vishwanath. Holika Dahan bonfires are lit at every ghat. The next day, the entire city erupts in colors, with special celebrations at Manikarnika and Assi Ghats. Thandai with bhang is the signature drink.