When Is Holi 2025? Date, Rituals, History, Significance, And Celebrations Across India – News18

Last Updated:January 01, 2025, 11:00 IST

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Falgun. This year, it will be observed on Friday, March 14.

Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India and also other parts of the world. (Image: Shutterstock)

Holi, also referred to as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring, isn’t just a festival; it’s an enchanting occasion that holds a special place in the hearts of millions across India and the globe. During this festival, people come together, unwind, and engage in joyous celebrations with friends and family.

As one of the biggest festivals on the Hindu calendar, Holi transcends religious boundaries, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The festival symbolises renewal, rebirth, and good over evil, which is celebrated in different ways, each region infusing its unique customs and traditions.

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The festivities begin with a bonfire in the evening, signifying the victory of good. On the following day, streets turn into bright parties with lots of laughter, music, and vibrant colour fights everywhere, creating a colourful atmosphere. People also gather and enjoy sweets and delicacies.

In this article, let’s take a deeper look into the exact date, shubh muhurat, history, significance, rituals, and everything related to this festival.

When Is Holi 2025? Date

Every year, people celebrate Holi on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month Falgun, which usually occurs in February or March. In 2025, the festival of colours will be observed on Friday, March 14.

Holi 2025: Shubh Muhurat

As per Drik Panchang, the auspicious time for Holi begins on March 13, 2025, at 10:35 AM and concludes at 12:23 PM on March 14, 2025.

Holi 2025: History

Holi holds deep roots in Hindu mythology with a belief that this day can ward off various fears. The festival commemorates the story of Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, who was saved from the evil plans of his father, Hiranyakashyap, and her sister, Holika.

Hiranyakashyap’s sister had a magical boon that made her immune to fire. So, she tried to use her powers to harm Prahlad by sitting with him in a burning pyre.

However, Holika perished in the flames, while Prahlad remained unharmed. This victory of good over evil is celebrated on the day of Holi.

While in other places like Mathura and Vrindavan, the festival is considered a celebration of the love between Lord Krishna and Radha.

Holi 2025: Significance

Holi is a festival that marks the victory of good over evil while also celebrating heavenly love shared by Lord Krishna and Radha. Besides, the harvest festival also respects the arrival of spring, and it also marks the end of winter.

If our Hindu mythology is anything to go by, Goddess Radha was extremely fair, whereas Lord Krishna had a dark complexion.

This contrasting difference in their complexion always had Lord Krishna worried about whether she would accept him. Seeing this dilemma, Mother Yashodha asked Lord Krishna to smear colour on Radha to bridge the gap.

Holi 2025: Rituals

Performing Holi rituals at the right time is crucial to avoid misfortune and suffering. So, check below the step-by-step ritual for this religious festival.

• On the first day of Holi, the Holika Dahan ritual is conducted using a pile of wood.
• The items required for the puja are a bowl of water, cow dung, unbroken rice, flowers, raw cotton thread, agarbatti, batasha, moong, turmeric pieces, gulal, and a coconut.
• The rituals begin by tying cotton threads around the wood, and Ganga water is sprinkled along with flowers.
• Then, the Holika Dahan structure is worshipped using the above-mentioned items.
• After finishing the puja, the wood is lit, symbolising the burning of evil, negativity, and ego from one’s life.

Holi 2025: Holika Dahan Date and Muhurat

The eve of Holi, known as Holika Dahan, will fall on Thursday, March 13. The shubh Muhurat for performing the rituals starts at 11:26 PM on March 13 and culminates at 12:30 AM on March 14, according to Drik Panchang.

Holika Dahan Puja Vidhi

1. Keep all Puja ingredients, i.e., one bowl of water, beads made of cow dung, roli, unbroken rice, fragrances like agarbatti and dhoop, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric pieces, moong, Batasha, Gulal powder and coconut on a plate. Moreover, fully grown grains of freshly cultivated crops like gram and wheat can be included in the Puja items.
2. Now, accompany a small water pot with Puja Thali. Then, sit down facing the East or the North direction and sprinkle some holy water on the Puja Thali and yourself.
3. Take the water, rice, flower and some money in the right hand and take Sankalp.
4. Following this, take the flower and rice in the right hand and remember Lord Ganesha by chanting a mantra.
5. After worshipping Lord Ganesha, remember Goddess Ambika by chanting auspicious mantras. While reciting, apply roli and rice on a flower and offer it along with agarbatti to Goddess Ambika.
6. Now, remember Lord Narasimha by chanting the mantra and applying Roli and rice on a flower and offering it along with fragrance to the Lord.
7. Next, remember devotee Prahlada by reciting a mantra and offering a flower by applying Roli and rice along with fragrance to devotee Prahlada.
8. Stand with folded hands and request to fulfill your wishes while chanting mantra.
9. Then, offer rice, fragrances, flower, turmeric pieces, Moong, coconut and a garland made of dried cow dung to Holika.
10. Tie three, five, or seven rounds of raw yarn around the Holika while circumambulating it. After that, empty the water pot in front of the Holika pile.
11. Lastly, Holika is burnt, and the fire from the public bonfire is brought home to burn Holika.
12. After that, all men wear an auspicious mark of Roli and take blessings from elders.
13. People also circumambulate Holika and offer new crops to the bonfire and roast them. The roasted grains are distributed to people as Holika Prasad.
14. The next morning, the ash from the bonfire is collected and smeared on the body.
15. The ash is considered holy, and it is believed that body and soul are purified after applying it.

Holi 2025: Why is Holi called the Festival of Colours?

According to Hindu mythology, this religious festival is based on the legend of Lord Krishna. It is believed that the Lord Krishna was worried about the blue colour of his face, which happened after being poisoned by breast milk in his childhood.

He was in despair because he believed that Radha and other girls wouldn’t like him because he had a dark complexion and Radha was very fair.

Seeing his pain, mother Yashoda playfully suggested him to smear Radha’s face with colours and remove any differences in their complexion. Krishna listened to her mother and applied gulal on Radha’s face.

This is how the celebration of Holi around the world began and the reason why the day is known as the festival of colours.

Holi 2025: Why is Lathmar Holi celebrated?

The entire country celebrates the spring festival, with each state having its own traditions and ways to observe the day. But the Lathmar Holi celebrations are world-famous, thanks to their colourful and lively way that brings joy to everyone involved.

Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Uttar Pradesh’s Barsana, which is believed to be the birthplace of Radha. The Holi celebration in Barsana has drawn its name from the unique way the villagers observe the day.

During Lathmar Holi, women of the village playfully chase and hit men from Nandgaon, Krishna’s village, with huge sticks called lath or lathi. The men defend themselves with shields amid the splashing of colour and gulal.

As per mythology, Lord Krishna and his troop used to visit Barsana to play Holi with Radha and other Gopis, and lathmar Holi is held to recreate that time and keep the tradition alive. This celebration draws millions of people from across India and abroad every year who take part in the celebrations.

Holi 2025: What is Rang Panchami?

Rang Panchami, also known as Krishna Panchami and Dev Panchami, is celebrated on the fifth day of Holi.According to the Purnimanta Hindu calendar, Rang Panchami is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Panchami of the Chaitra month.

This festival is observed to commemorate Lord Krishna playing Holi with colours and Gulal with Radha Rani.On this auspicious occasion, Rangotsava and special tableaux are organised in various temples of the country.

Moreover, several types of cultural programs are organised at the regional level. In 2025, Rang Panchami falls on March 19.

Holi 2025: Traditions Across India

Dol Jatra

Holi is observed as Dol Jatra in the eastern part, mainly in West Bengal and Odisha.The festival starts by worshipping Lord Krishna, with the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha placed on swings.

Devotees who take part in the puja get a chance to swing the idols, which is considered auspicious. Later, people smear each other’s faces with red and pink colours known as ‘abeer,’sing along and dance to traditional music or folk songs as well.In many places, the idols of Lord Radha-Krishna are also taken out on a procession.

Lathmar Holi

The Lathmar Holi in Mathura’s Barsana, the birthplace of Radha, draws lakhs of people from across India and abroad every year. In this Holi celebration, women of the village beat men with huge sticks called lath.

During this, men are forced to defend themselves with wooden shields amid the splashing of colourful gulal.

Bhasm Holi in Varanasi

Now, another unique Holi celebration is held in Varanasi, the land of Lord Vishwanath. This is a unique tradition of playing Holi as saints, Aghoris and Naga Sadhus celebrate the festival with the ash from the funeral pyreto pay obeisance to Lord Vishwanath.

As the name suggests, Chita Bhasm Holi,or Masan Holi,is celebrated at the cremation ground in Varanasi by smearing ashes. It is believed that Lord Shiva visits the famous Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi on this day to celebrate Bhasm Holi.

Phool Wali Holi

Now, those who visit the holy city of Vrindavan know how popular ‘Phool Wali Holi’ is among the tourists. Before the occasion of Holi, Phool Wali Holi is celebrated in the state at the famous Bankebihari temple of Vrindavan.

On this day, devotees shower colourful flower petals on the idols Radha-Krishna at the temple.

Holi 2025: Is it a bank holiday in India?

Banks observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays and every Sunday of the month. In addition, they are closed for festivals and other special occasions. So, if you’re planning tovisit your loved ones during the festival or enjoy the Holi of Vrindavan, let us clear you that banks will be closed on the occasion of Holi.

Holi 2025: FAQs

What is Holi?

Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India and also other parts of the world. The day marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

When is Holi celebrated?

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month Falgun. This year, it falls on Friday, March 14. The eve of Holi, known as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi,will be observed on Thursday, March 13.

What is the story behind Holi?

There are mainly two narratives associated with Holi: Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu and Kamadeva and Shiva.

Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu:This is the story of a demon king, Hiranyakashipu, who wanted everyone to worship him. However, his son, Prahlad, was a devotee of god Vishnu.

This enraged Hiranyakashipu who asked her sister, Holika, who had a blessing that fire cannot burn her. She tried to burn Prahlad in a fire, but she perished instead. This marks the triumph of good over evil.

Kamadeva and Shiva:In some traditions, the festival is linked to the god of love, Kamadeva. It is believed that he awakened Shiva from his deep meditation with an arrow. This story indicates the return of spring and fertility.

How is Holi celebrated?

Holi is a joyous and vibrant festival and is celebrated with full enthusiasm across the country. It starts by performing Holika Dahan in the evening of Holi, followed by playing with colours and savouring traditional Holi cuisines and drinks.

What are the traditional foods eaten during Holi?

The traditional foods that are widely enjoyed during Holi are sweets like malpua and gujiya. Moreover, Thandai, a special drink made with milk, nuts, and spices, is also savoured in several parts of India.