Holi 2025: When is Holi - March 13 or 14, date, rituals, timings, and all you need to know

Holi is the festival of colours, cheer, love, and good vibes. It is full of joy and happiness, and a festival that people look forward to celebrating all year. So much so, that weeks before Holi, people start collecting Holi colours, water guns, balloons, and of course, the Gujiyas.
And every year, the doubt in people’s mind is the right date when Holi will be celebrated, and if Holi and Holika Dahan would be on the same day. Some people believe that Holi will be celebrated on March 13, both Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi, but others say that because there is Bhadra kaal on March 13, rangwali Holi celebrations will be postponed across states, and people will celebrate just Holika Dahan on March 13. If you too have the same doubts, here we mention the correct dates, timings, muhurats, and more for Holi 2025.

Holi is celebrated on two days - Chhoti Holi and then Rang Holi. Chhoti Holi is celebrated as the day of Holika Dahan, and then the next day people play with colours.
In 2025, people were confused about the right day to celebrate Holi, and according to Drik Panchang, “Holi on Friday, March 14, 2025
Holika Dahan on Thursday, March 13, 2025
Purnima Tithi Begins - 10:35 AM on Mar 13, 2025
Purnima Tithi Ends - 12:23 PM on Mar 14, 2025”


Unlike Holika Dahan that people do at a certain time and muhurat, rang holi, the holy played with colours, water, and more, does not have a specific time. Children and even elder people start playing with colours in the morning, and it goes on well till lunch time or even till evening.
Holika Dahan is done on certain timings after consulting the priests, usually in the evening time, but Holi is celebrated without any Muhurat, starting the colour and flower play in the morning post breakfast, and continuing it till people get tired.

On the night before Rangwali Holi, people gather for Holika Dahan, a ritual bonfire.
The legend says, when the demon king Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, his sister Holika, who had a magical cloak that protected her from fire, tricked Prahlad into sitting with her in a fire. But, Lord Vishnu came as Prahlad’s saviour, and Holika was burned off in the fire, and little Prahlad was saved.
And so today, people collect wood and build a bonfire, throwing grains, coconuts, and other offerings into the fire while chanting prayers. Holika Dahan is also a celebration of the victory of good, divine forces over evil.

Then on the next day people celebrate Holi with colours, music, and other festivities. People smear each other with gulal and splash water using pichkaris, while having traditional food like Gujiya, malpua, bread pakoda, thandai, and more. There are colours and flowers in the air with the elders smearing each other with gulaal and chandan, and the little children running behind each other with water guns and balloons.
And with the celebrations, Holi festivities bring people together as friends, family, and even strangers celebrate together.

Holi is celebrated differently across India, and the most famous one is Barsane ki Holi. It is also called Lathmar Holi and people, especially women, playfully hit men with sticks. Then in Nandgaon also people play Lathmar Holi, and in Vrindavan, Phoolon wali Holi, or Holi with flowers is famous.
In Punjab, people play Hola Mohalla, where men and women get on horses and play with and without colours.

Play Holi safely
Another thing people must note is that it is important to play Holi wisely and safely. Off late, there have been accusations of harassment and more during Holi celebrations, and these should be shunned down.
And when playing Rangwali Holi, make sure there are no dyes, permanent colours, or chemical colours are used. Use gulaal and chandan as much as possible, and play responsibly.
Also, never abuse drinking ‘Thandai’ as it can be harmful for your own health and sake.