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Festival Calendar

Holi 2016

The festival of colours (Dhulandi), the morning after Holika Dahan on Chaitra Krishna Pratipada.

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Holi 2016 date
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Tithi: Chaitra Krishna Pratipada
Tithi window: 05:33 PM, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 → 08:02 PM, Thursday, 24 March 2016
See the full panchang for Thursday, 24 March 2016

Muhurat & timings

Kashi/IST · astronomically computed
  • Sankalp (sunrise)05:57
  • Sunset18:10
  • Fasting window (tithi)2016-03-23 · 17:33 → 20:02
  • Parana (tithi ends)20:02

Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.

Read the Holi puja vidhi, vrat rules and katha

Holi — Frequently Asked Questions

Why must Holika Dahan avoid Bhadra?

Bhadra (the Vishti karana) is held to spoil auspicious fire rites. The dahan is performed in pradosh kaal only after Bhadra has ended; if Bhadra covers the whole evening, it is deferred to the night.

Is Holi celebrated on one day or two?

Two. Holika Dahan is on the evening of Phalguna Purnima; Rangwali Holi, the colour, is the following morning on Chaitra Krishna Pratipada.

What is done with the ash from the bonfire?

It is applied to the forehead the next morning before the colours begin, as a mark that what was spent has been surrendered to the fire.

Other major festivals in 2016