Festival · Phalguna Purnima
Holi (Holika Dahan) 2026
On the full moon of Phalguna the Holi fire is lit: the bad burns, and spring comes in. And puran poli for the fire!
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for New Jersey. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asHolika Dahan, Hutashani Purnima, Shimga (Konkan)
- WhereAll of India; Shimga in the Konkan, and biggest of all in Braj
- Puja forAgni, in the Holi fire
- In one lineHolika burns and Prahlad is saved: good wins over evil, and spring arrives.
Holi (Holika Dahan), in a little more detail
- 01
About the festival
Holi welcomes spring. The cold is over, the trees put out new leaves, and everyone comes outdoors.
This evening the fire is lit: whatever is bad goes up in smoke. The next day is Dhulivandan, and five days on comes Rang Panchami. In Maharashtra most of the colour waits for Rang Panchami.
Above all, Holi is the day to drop old grudges. Forgive, say sorry, and start fresh.
- 02
The story of Prahlad and Holika
The demon king Hiranyakashipu thought himself a god. But his son Prahlad was devoted to Vishnu, and however his father threatened him, Prahlad would not let go of Vishnu's name.
At last Hiranyakashipu's sister Holika sat in a fire with Prahlad. She had a cloak that fire could not burn. But the cloak flew off and wrapped Prahlad instead: he was saved, and Holika burned.
Later Vishnu came as Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashipu. The Holi fire remembers that victory.
- 03
In Maharashtra and beyond
For a week before, children go door to door collecting wood and a little money for the fire. In the evening the wood is stacked in the square and lit.
Every home sends puran poli to the fire as naivedya. People walk around the fire, and in some places a coconut goes into it.
In the Konkan, Holi is Shimga: a festival of nearly a month, with the village goddess carried from house to house in her palkhi.
In Braj, around Mathura and Vrindavan, Holi belongs to Radha and Krishna and their colours. At Barsana's Lathmar Holi the women swing sticks and the men hide behind shields.
How to do the puja
In short: An evening puja at the fire, puran poli as naivedya, a coconut and the rounds: that is Holi.
- 1Gather wood and cow-dung cakes, and build the Holi in an open space.Don't cut trees: dry wood and cow-dung cakes are enough. Build it away from wires, vehicles and houses.
- 2Wind raw cotton thread around it, and set a coconut, wheat ears and chana at its foot.Many homes wind it three, five or seven times.
- 3In the evening, bathe and go to the Holi with a pot of water.Keep water at hand: the puja needs it, and so does keeping the fire in check.
- 4Worship it with haldi-kunku, akshata and flowers.In many places the whole lane does the puja together.
- 5Offer puran poli as naivedya.Puran poli for the fire goes from every home.
- 6Light the Holi in the window shown above.The fire is lit only after bhadra; the time on the page already allows for it.
- 7Offer a coconut to the fire, and walk around it sprinkling water.Keep children well back from the flames as you go round.
- 8Share the naivedya and the roasted chana as prasad.Wheat ears and chana roasted in the Holi are held to be prasad.
What you needTick as you go
0 of 8 ready
Frequently asked questions
When do I light the Holi?
On the full-moon evening, at pradosh, once bhadra is over. The time for your city is at the top of this page.
How many rounds should I walk?
Three, five or seven: an odd number, as your family does. In Maharashtra people also shout bomba as they go round.
What should never go into the fire?
Plastic, tyres, painted wood and rubbish: their smoke is toxic. And no green trees cut for it.
Can I hold a small Holi in my building or at home?
Yes, in an open, safe spot and with your building's permission. If there's no room, a small cow-dung-cake fire and the puja, or taking naivedya to the lane's Holi, is enough.
Why a coconut and puran poli?
Holi honours the fire, and the coconut and puran poli are offered to it. Puran poli for the Holi is an old Maharashtrian custom.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.