Holi 2026: Eclipse on the date, Bhadra posing an obstacle, a day's gap between worship and the festival of colours, find out when the festival will be celebrated.

Like every festival, there is confusion regarding the date of Holi this year. This year, Holi is falling under an eclipse, so astrologers are suggesting that Holika Puja be performed a day earlier, on March 2nd. Meanwhile, several astrologers are advocating for Holika Dahan in the early hours of March 3rd. After this, there will be a day off, and the festival of colors will be celebrated on March 4th.

This is the first time in many years that there will be a one-day gap between the puja and the Holi festival. According to astrologers, this time the full moon date will begin at 5:56 pm on March 2nd and end at 5:08 pm on March 3rd. There will also be a lunar eclipse on March 3rd, which will fall on the full moon date of the month of Phalgun. According to scriptures, Holika Dahan is performed only on the day when the full moon date falls during the Pradosh period.

Acharya Dr. Sushant Raj explained that Holika Dahan is not performed during Bhadra Mukha. Pradosh Kaal will be from 6:22 pm to 8:53 pm on March 2nd. Bhadra will also be present during this period, but Bhadra Mukha will not be present. Therefore, burning Holika on the evening of March 2nd will be inauspicious.

Due to the lunar eclipse, eclipse rules will apply.

Acharya Pawan Pathak explains that Holika Dahan could have been performed during the Pradosh time on March 3rd, but due to the lunar eclipse, the eclipse rules will apply. The scriptures clearly state that if there is a lunar eclipse, Holika Dahan should be performed on the night of the full moon, without Bhadra.

If there is a Grastodaya eclipse the next day, Holika Dahan should be performed during the fourth yam of the night or Vishtipuchh period, bypassing Bhadra on the previous day. In such a case, Holika Dahan can be performed from 5:29 am to before sunrise on March 3rd. Bhadra will begin on March 2nd at 5:56 pm and will continue until 5:28 am on March 3rd.

The full moon will last until evening, and the festival of colors will be celebrated on the fourth.

According to astrologers, Holika Puja is performed on the evening of the full moon day of the month of Phalgun, or during the Pradosh period, and the festival of colors is celebrated the following day, i.e., on Chaitra Krishna Pratipada. This year, the full moon will last until 5:56 pm on March 3rd. Consequently, the festival of colors will not be celebrated on March 3rd. The festival of colors will be celebrated on Chaitra Krishna Pratipada, March 4th.

Holikas decorated in the city

Preparations for the festival of Holi have begun in Doon. Holikas have been decorated at many places in the city, including Saharanpur Road, Niranjanpur, near Mandi, Majra, Param Vihar, and Prince Chowk. Hundreds of places in Doon have been prepared using cow dung cakes and wood.