Holi 2027 is Wednesday, March 3, 2027. The night before, Tuesday, March 2, is Holika Dahan, when bonfires are lit across northern India. Here is what the festival is, where it is biggest, what closes, and how to join it as a visitor without ruining your eyes, your phone or your day.
The dates#
| 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Holika Dahan (bonfire night) | Tuesday, March 2 |
| Holi (the day of colours, Dhulandi / Rangwali Holi) | Wednesday, March 3 |
| Rang Panchami (Maharashtra, five days later) | Sunday, March 7 |
Holi falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna, so it moves each year between late February and late March. In 2026 it was March 3 as well; in 2028 it is Saturday, March 11.
What Holi is#
Holi marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Two stories sit behind it: the demon king's sister Holika, who burned while the devotee Prahlad was spared, remembered in the bonfires of Holika Dahan; and Krishna and Radha, whose playful colour-throwing in the Braj region became the festival's signature.
On the day, people throw gulal (coloured powder) and water at friends, family and strangers, say "Bura na mano, Holi hai" ("don't take offence, it's Holi"), eat gujiya and other sweets, and visit each other's homes. In many places thandai, a spiced milk drink, is served, sometimes with bhang (cannabis), which is part of why the afternoons get hazy.
Where it is biggest#
Mathura and Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh): Krishna's homeland and the heart of Holi. Celebrations run for about a week before the day. Lathmar Holi in Barsana and then Nandgaon, where women playfully beat men with sticks, falls in the days before; Vrindavan's Banke Bihari temple has colour and flower celebrations; Mathura's Dwarkadhish temple is the place on the day itself. It is intense, crowded and unforgettable, and the hardest place to do without a local.
Jaipur: the easiest big-city Holi for a first-timer, with hotel and community events as well as the streets. Delhi: neighbourhood celebrations everywhere, plus ticketed events for visitors. Udaipur: the royal Holika Dahan procession at the City Palace the evening before is one of the most photographed in India. Mumbai and Pune celebrate too, and Maharashtra's Rang Panchami repeats the colours five days later.
If you would rather see India's other great festival first: Diwali 2026 is on November 8.
What closes#
Holi is a gazetted public holiday in most states, so government offices, banks and many shops close on March 3. Trains and flights run. Hotels and restaurants often open properly in the afternoon, once the morning of colours is done. Holika Dahan on March 2 is a normal working day almost everywhere.
How to join without regretting it#
- Old clothes you will throw away. White shows the colours best; nothing comes out in the wash.
- Oil your skin and hair the night before (coconut oil is the local choice) so the colour washes off. Synthetic colours stain for days otherwise.
- Sunglasses or clear glasses, and keep your mouth shut when a handful comes at you. Powder in the eyes is the commonest injury.
- Seal your phone in a zip bag or a waterproof pouch. Water balloons and buckets are part of it.
- Go with people you know. The morning is joyful in a neighbourhood and rowdy on a main road. Hotel and community events are the gentle version; a local family's rooftop is the best version.
- Be indoors by early afternoon. The public part winds down by then, and the drunk part of the day begins.
For women travellers, plainly: crowded Holi streets bring unwanted touching and groping, and the "it's Holi" excuse gets used. Go in a group, stay off main roads in the morning, choose a hosted event or a family celebration, and leave any crowd that feels wrong. Most people you meet will be delighted you came; the precautions are for the minority.
Go with someone from there#
The difference between a great Holi and a bad one is almost always who you are with. Roavi lists Local Friends in Indian cities: people who live there, set their own hourly rate and message you before you meet. For Holi that means a neighbourhood celebration instead of a tourist street, someone who knows which temple to be at and when to leave, and a rooftop to watch from when the morning gets loud.
Where they are today, with the live count: rent a friend in India. How it works and what it costs: rent a friend in India, and by city, Delhi and Mumbai.
Celebrate Holi 2027 with someone who grew up with it.
Meet local guidesEvery Indian city with a Local Friend listed today: rent a friend in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Holi 2027?
Wednesday, March 3, 2027. Holika Dahan, the bonfire the evening before, is Tuesday, March 2. The date moves each year with the lunar calendar: it falls on the full moon of the month of Phalguna, which lands in late February or March.When is Holi 2028?
Saturday, March 11, 2028, with Holika Dahan on Friday, March 10.What is Holi?
The Hindu festival of colours, marking the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil, tied to the stories of Prahlad and Holika and of Krishna and Radha. The evening before, bonfires are lit for Holika Dahan. On the day itself people throw coloured powder (gulal) and water at each other, visit friends and family, and eat sweets such as gujiya.Where is Holi biggest in India?
The Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, around Mathura and Vrindavan, Krishna's homeland, where celebrations run for about a week before the day: Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon, the flower Holi and widows' Holi in Vrindavan, and the temples of Mathura on the day. Among big cities, Jaipur, Delhi and Udaipur are the easiest for a visitor; Mumbai and Pune celebrate too, with Rang Panchami five days later in Maharashtra.What closes on Holi?
Holi is a gazetted public holiday in most Indian states, so government offices, banks and many shops close on the day. Trains and flights run. Many hotels and restaurants open later in the day, after the morning of colours. The day before, Holika Dahan, is a normal working day in most places.Is Holi safe for tourists?
In the right company, yes, and it is one of the great days to be in India. The crowds are mostly joyful, but the morning gets rowdy in places: drunk groups, aggressive colour-throwing, and women travellers in particular report unwanted touching in crowded streets. Go with people you know, stay in a neighbourhood or a hotel event rather than a main road, keep your phone sealed, and be back indoors by early afternoon when the public part is over.