Holi 2027

What is Holi?

Holi is the Hindu festival of colours and the joyful welcome of spring. It is celebrated over two days at the full moon of the month of Phalguna, usually in March: Holika Dahan, a bonfire on the evening of the full moon, and Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi the next morning, when people play with coloured powder and water. It is one of the most widely known Indian festivals in the world.

Why is Holi celebrated?

The bonfire recalls the story of Prahlad, a young devotee of Lord Vishnu, and his father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who wanted to be worshipped as a god. Hiranyakashipu's sister Holika, who could not be harmed by fire, sat in a fire with Prahlad on her lap; Holika burned and Prahlad was saved by his faith. Holika Dahan therefore celebrates the victory of devotion and good over evil.

The colours are linked with Lord Krishna, who, according to legend, playfully coloured Radha's face; Holi in Braj — Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon — re-enacts this love and play for more than a week.

How is Holi celebrated?

Holika Dahan

On the evening of the full moon, communities light a bonfire of wood and cow-dung cakes. Families walk around it, offering raw wheat and barley ears, coconut, gram and turmeric, and pray for the well-being of the household. The ash is considered sacred.

Rangwali Holi

The next morning everyone plays with gulal and colours, water guns and balloons, greeting each other with "Holi Hai!" and "Bura na mano, Holi hai" — don't mind, it's Holi. Old grievances are forgiven, and social distinctions are set aside for the day. In the afternoon people bathe, dress in fresh clothes and visit friends and family.

Food

Gujiya (sweet dumplings filled with khoya and dry fruit), thandai (a spiced cold milk drink), dahi bhalle, malpua and namkeen are the classic Holi foods.

Holi traditions across India

In Barsana and Nandgaon, women playfully beat the men with sticks in Lathmar Holi. In Vrindavan, temples celebrate with flowers (Phoolon wali Holi). In Bengal and Odisha, the same full moon is Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima, when Krishna is carried in a swing procession; it is also the birth anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In Punjab, Sikhs celebrate Hola Mohalla with martial displays at Anandpur Sahib. In Bihar and among Bhojpuri communities, Phagua songs are sung.

Holi around the world

Holi is now celebrated in parks and on campuses from London and New Jersey to Sydney and Auckland. In Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname and Fiji, Phagwa is a major festival with traditional chowtal singing. Check local rules about colours, water and crowds before organising an event.

Playing Holi safely

• Use natural or herbal colours; avoid chemical colours, glass-based glitter and engine oil.
• Rub oil or moisturiser on skin and hair beforehand, and protect your eyes.
• Do not throw water balloons at strangers or at animals; ask before colouring someone.
• Save water — dry gulal is enough to celebrate.
• Keep thandai with bhang away from children and do not drive after drinking it.