Holika Dahan 2026
Holika Dahan 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (computed for local sunset).
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Holika Dahan
Holika Dahan is the bonfire lit on the eve of Holi, on the full-moon night of Phalguna. It commemorates the deliverance of the child Prahlada from the demoness Holika, who burned in the fire meant for him.
Effigies of Holika are assembled from twigs and dung cakes in street crossings during the day and lit after sunset, with families circling the fire. The embers are collected next morning, and the ash is traditionally smeared on the body as a mark of purification before the colours of Holi.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Sukla Chaturdasi |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 19:10 (-1 day) – 17:56 |
| Nakshatra | Aslesha |
| Sunrise | 06:45 IST |
| Sunset | 18:21 IST |
| Moonrise | 17:21 |
| Moonset | 05:59 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:33 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 18:21 – 19:57 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 00:08 (+1 day) – 00:57 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is computed for local sunset.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday | 19:10 (-1 day) – 17:56 | computed for local sunset | |
| 2027 | Sunday | 20:45 (-1 day) – 18:22 | computed for local sunset |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Holika Dahan in 2026?
- Holika Dahan 2026 falls on Monday, 2 March 2026 in Delhi, India (computed for local sunset).
- What is Holika Dahan?
- Holika Dahan is the bonfire lit on the eve of Holi, on the full-moon night of Phalguna. It commemorates the deliverance of the child Prahlada from the demoness Holika, who burned in the fire meant for him.
- How is Holika Dahan observed?
- Effigies of Holika are assembled from twigs and dung cakes in street crossings during the day and lit after sunset, with families circling the fire. The embers are collected next morning, and the ash is traditionally smeared on the body as a mark of purification before the colours of Holi.
- Why might Holika Dahan fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).