Holi 2027: Date, Holika Dahan and Countdown

Holi 2027 is on Monday 22 March 2027, the day of colours. Holika Dahan, the bonfire night that opens the festival, is on the evening of Sunday 21 March 2027.

Last updated: 8 November 2026

Holi is the Hindu festival of colours and the arrival of spring. Its date comes from the lunisolar Hindu calendar: Holika Dahan is held on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Phalguna, and the colours are thrown the next day.

Holi dates 2025–2030

The table lists the main day of colours (Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi). Dates for 2029 and 2030 are expected dates from published panchang calendars and some calendars list a day earlier; confirm with your state's holiday list closer to the time.

Why the date changes

The Hindu calendar tracks both the moon and the sun. Months follow lunar cycles, and an extra month is added roughly every three years to stop the calendar drifting away from the seasons. As a result, Holi always lands in late February or March, but the Gregorian date moves by up to about three weeks from year to year. Because a lunar day (tithi) does not start at midnight, the full moon can span two calendar days, and regions sometimes celebrate on different days.

Two days of Holi

Holika Dahan (Sunday 21 March 2027): bonfires are lit after dark to mark the victory of good over evil, recalling the story of Prahlad, who survived the fire, and his aunt Holika, who did not. People circle the fire and offer grains and coconut.

Rangwali Holi (Monday 22 March 2027): from morning until around midday, people throw coloured powder (gulal) and water at each other, drink thandai and eat sweets such as gujiya. Social rules relax for a few hours, and afternoons are for washing off, resting and visiting family.

Where Holi is celebrated differently

• Mathura and Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh): the region linked to Krishna celebrates for a week or more, including Lathmar Holi in Barsana and flower Holi in Vrindavan temples, usually before the main day.
• West Bengal: Holi coincides with Dol Jatra (Basanta Utsav), with processions and songs, and in Shantiniketan a cultural spring festival.
• Punjab: Sikh communities celebrate Hola Mohalla the day after Holi, with martial arts displays in Anandpur Sahib.
• Nepal: Holi (Fagu Purnima) is a public holiday, celebrated a day earlier in the hills than in the southern Terai plains.
• Outside South Asia: large Holi events are held in the UK, the US, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago (as Phagwah) and Suriname.

Practical tips for Holi 2027

• Wear old clothes you can throw away, oil your hair and skin beforehand, and protect your phone in a sealed bag.
• Many shops, restaurants and offices close until the afternoon. Metro services in some cities start later than usual on Holi morning.
• Trains to and from North Indian cities are heavily booked in the days around Holi, as people travel home.
• Solo travellers, especially women, often prefer organised celebrations at hotels or community events rather than crowded streets.

Frequently asked questions

What is the date of Holi 2027?

Monday 22 March 2027, with Holika Dahan on the evening of Sunday 21 March.

Is Holi 2027 a public holiday in India?

Holi is on the central government's list of gazetted holidays. Some states also mark Holika Dahan or a second day; check your state's notification.

Why does Holi change date every year?

It follows the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna on a lunisolar calendar, so the Gregorian date moves each year.

When is Holi 2028?

Saturday 11 March 2028.

Sources: Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India – holiday lists · Gazetted holiday list 2027 (coverage of the DoPT order) · Hindutone – Holi 2027