Holi is one of the most important and loved festivals in India. It is celebrated with great joy, fervor, and enthusiasm. On this day, people smear each other’s faces with colors, and kids splash everyone with water guns and water balloons. This year, this festival of colors will be celebrated on March 2, 2026 and March 3, 2026. But what is its puja vidhi? Why is it celebrated? Here’s everything you must know about Holi 2026.
All About Holi 2026
Holi 2026: Date And Muhurat
According to the Hindu Calendar, Holi is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna. This means it generally falls in the month of February or March. The Phalguna Purnima will begin at 05:55 PM on 2 March 2026 and end at 05:07 PM on 3 March 2026.
Each lunar day is known as a tithi in the Hindu calendar, and Holi is always celebrated on the 15th tithi. This is because this period is said to be auspicious for new beginnings, celebrations, and social gatherings.
Holika Dahan will be celebrated on March 2, while the main festival, where people celebrate with colors, Rangpanchami, will be on March 3.
Holika Dahan is a Hindu ritual in which people light a bonfire to celebrate the burning of the demoness Holika.
Muhurat for Holika Dahan: 06:22 PM to 08: 50 PM
Holi 2026: Puja Vidhi
- On the evening of Holika Dahan (March 2, 2026), assemble a thali with water, vermilion, rice, turmeric pieces, flowers, thread, coconut, and sweets (like gujiya).
- Go to a holika (bonfire) and put all these above-mentioned things into the fire while making a wish.
- Now take 3, 5, or 7 rounds around the fire by constantly pouring water around it.
- While praying to the bonfire, make sure you mention Lord Vishnu and Narsimha to get their blessings.
- After this, you can apply colors to each other’s faces and wish them the best of the festivities.
- Post puja, you must take some ashes back home with you as it is considered to be auspicious.
Holi 2026: Story Behind The Celebration
According to Hindu mythology, two main stories explain why Holi is celebrated.
Story No. 1: Prahlad and Demon King Hiranyakashyapu
Demon king Hiranyakashyapu was a opposer of Lord Vishnu and wanted to kill his son Prahlad for being a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He ordered his sister, demoness Holika, who had the boon to be immune to fire, to kill Prahlad. She sat in blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap, but due to Lord Vishnu’s blessings, Holika was reduced to ashes instead of Prahlad. Hence, the night before Holi is celebrated as Holika Dahan to mark the triumph of good over evil.
Story No. 2: Radha and Krishna
Young Lord Krishna had blue skin and was always worried about being different from Radha, who had bright, fair skin. While playing one day, he applied color to Radha’s face, and this gave birth to the tradition of smearing color on the faces of friends and families on Holi.
Holi 2026: Significance
Holi holds very deep religious as well as cultural significance for Hindus. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil as well as celebrates renewal and love. It also signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring or summer season in India. According to spirituality, it is believed to burn all the negativity, like hatred, lust, greed, and selfishness, and promote harmony and devotion.
This festival also promotes unity as it erases all social barriers when people from all castes, classes, and ages play Holi together. It speaks about rejuvenation, fertility, and joy marking spring’s harvest.
People prepare and share thandai drinks and sweets, giving rise to communal feasting, while music and dance amplify this celebration.
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Summing Up
Holi is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, and this year it will be celebrated on March 2 and 3. Make sure that you follow the puja vidhi to get the blessings of Lord Vishnu and Narsimha.
