Holi 2026 date: Is it on March 3 or 4? Know correct date, shubh muhurat, timings and all about the festival of colours

Holi 2026: Holi, a major Hindu festival, symbolises the victory of good over evil and celebrates the love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Know date and timings.

Holi 2026: Holi week is here already. While the final preparations are being done at homes for the festival, institutions such as offices and colleges are often getting coloured in early celebrations. Organising a proper Holi celebration involves a lot of planning, and knowing when the day and auspicious timing fall is crucial to it all. Check the exact dates in the following sections, which will help you plan accordingly.

Holi 2026: Holi is a major Hindu festival celebrating good over evil. (Pixabay)

Holi 2026 date and time

As per Drik Panchang, Holi is on March 4th, with Holika Dahan on March 3rd. The timings are here as follows:

• Purnima Tithi Begins - 05:55 PM on Mar 02, 2026
• Purnima Tithi Ends - 05:07 PM on Mar 03, 2026

Significance

People come together, putting differences aside and celebrate Holi. (AP)

Holi is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. The festival has two underlying themes: the celebration of the victory of good over evil and the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha. It also symbolically marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The festival also brings people together, acting as a festival of unity as everyone plays with colours with each other. This vibrant celebration showcases the spirit of happiness and togetherness.

Further, let's dive deep into the mythological lore. Lord Krishna, known for his dark skin complexion, is believed to have felt insecure about whether Radha, who was fair-skinned, would accept it. When he shared this concern with his mother, Yashodha advised him to apply colour to Radha's face to remove the visible complexion differences between them. Krishna followed her advice, which evnetiually have inspired the act of playing with colours during Holi. Holi is celebrated in Mathura and Vrindavan with great enthusiasm, as these places are associated with Lord Krishna's story extensively.

Another legend says that Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, tried to burn Prahlad in a fire, but divine intervention saved Prahlad while she instead perished, marking the victory of good over evil.