Holi 2026 Date: Is Holi on March 3 or March 4 in 2026? Explained
There has been confusion over whether Holi in 2026 will be celebrated on March 3 or March 4. Lunar eclipses and traditional calculations have created a unique situation — read on to understand why the dates differ and what is the exact date of Holi.
This year, Holi 2026, has caused some confusion, as different calendars listed March 3 and March 4 as Holi dated this year.
According to the traditional Hindu lunar calendar and authoritative astrological sources, both March 2 and March 4 play a role in the festival. This is due to a combination of lunar timing, eclipses, and the Sutak period observed in Sanatan Dharma.
The festival of colours, known as Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi, naturally fell the following morning on March4.
HOLI 2026: WHY IS HOLIKA DAHAN CELIBRATED ON MARCH 2?
The evening before Holi is called Holika Dahan.
Families gather around a bonfire, offer prayers and symbolic grains, and celebrate the victory of good over evil from the story of Prahlad and Holika.
Astrologers, including Pandit Daivgya Krishna Shastri, confirmed that Holika Dahan should occur on March 2, 2026, between 12:50 am and 2:02 am.
Based on calculations from the Nirnay Sindhu text, this is the Chaturdashi date of Shukla Paksha of Phalguna month. Burning Holika during the tail period of Bhadra (after 12:50 am) aligns with scriptural rules.
The Hrishikesh Panchang also notes that the full moon begins on March 2 at 5:18 pm and continues until 4:33 pm on March 3, supporting this timing.
HOLI 2026: WHY IS HOLI NOT ON MARCH 3?
The full moon day (Phalguna Purnima) falls on March 3, but a lunar eclipse will occur that evening.
The moon rises at 5:59 pm, while the eclipse begins at 3:20 pm, peaks at 5:04 pm, and ends at 6:47 pm. Only the end of the eclipse is visible in India.
The Sutak period, which lasts 9 hours before a lunar eclipse, begins at 6:20 am on March 3. Because of these astrological rules, celebrating the festival of colours on March 3 is considered inauspicious.
HOLI 2026: WHEN WILL RANGWALI BE CELEBRATED?
Due to the eclipse and Sutak period, Rangwali Holi will be celebrated across India on March 4, 2026.
Pandit Ved Prakash Mishra explains that Holi is traditionally celebrated the morning after Holika Dahan, and the lunar eclipse necessitates this adjustment. Pilgrimages and worship on March 3 further reinforce that Holi festivities are shifted to March 4.
WHAT ARE THE REGIONAL AND SCRIPTUAL CONSIDERATIONS?
Scriptures emphasise burning Holika during the Bhadra tail period to ensure ritual compliance. Holi remains a festival of togetherness, colours, and spring celebration, even when dates shift slightly due to astronomical events.
The Hrishikesh Panchang and classical texts confirm this timing.
SO WHICH DATE SHOULD YOU FOLLOW?
If you are planning rituals, follow March 2.
If you are planning celebrations, follow the March 4 timings.
Both dates belong to Holi — just different parts of the same festival.
FAQs
1. Is Holi on March 3 or March 4 in 2026?
Holika Dahan: March 2 early morning; Colours: March 4 due to the lunar eclipse.
2. Why is Holi 2026 not on March 3?
The lunar eclipse and Sutak period make March 3 inauspicious for celebrations.
3. Why does Holi change dates every year?
It follows the lunar calendar and full-moon timing.
3. Can colours be played on Holika Dahan night?
Traditionally, no. Colour play happens on the actual day of Holi.
4. Which day is usually the public holiday?
Most places declare the holiday on Rangwali Holi, which is March 4 this year.