Holi 2027: Holika Dahan muhurat and what Bhadra means for it

When is Holi in 2027, and when is Holika Dahan? Holika Dahan, the bonfire night, is on Sunday 21 March 2027, and Rangwali Holi, the day of colours, is on Monday 22 March 2027. In New Delhi the Holika Dahan muhurat is 6:33 PM to 8:54 PM on 21 March, in Pradosh kaal just after sunset.

Holi 2027 at a glance (New Delhi)

	New Delhi (IST)
Holika Dahan	Sunday 21 March 2027
Holika Dahan muhurat	6:33 PM to 8:54 PM
Rangwali Holi (colours)	Monday 22 March 2027
Purnima begins	6:22 PM, 21 March
Purnima ends	4:14 PM, 22 March
Bhadra ends	5:15 AM, 22 March

The rule for Holika Dahan

Holika Dahan is done on the Purnima (full Moon) of Phalguna, in Pradosh kaal, the period that starts at sunset. Drik Panchang's rule adds one important check: Bhadra.

Bhadra is another name for Vishti karana. A karana is half a tithi, and on Purnima the first half is always Vishti. Good work, Holika Dahan included, is traditionally avoided while Bhadra runs. Drik Panchang sets out what to do:

• If Bhadra is over by Pradosh, light the fire in Pradosh.
• If Bhadra is still running in Pradosh but ends before Hindu midnight, wait until it ends.
• If Bhadra goes on past midnight, the fire may be lit during Bhadra, preferably in its last part, called Bhadra Punchha, and never in Bhadra Mukha. If Bhadra Punchha does not fall between Pradosh and midnight, the fire is lit in Pradosh.

Hindu midnight here means the midpoint between sunset and the next sunrise, not 12 o'clock.

What happens in 2027

In 2027 the Purnima begins at 6:22 PM on 21 March, just before sunset, so the whole Bhadra falls in the night. It ends at 5:15 AM on 22 March, well after midnight. Its Punchha part falls after midnight too, so it cannot be used. That puts Holika Dahan in Pradosh, from sunset at 6:33 PM to 8:54 PM, while the Purnima is already running.

Drik Panchang also mentions a different custom. Some pandits of Banaras and others in North India wait until Bhadra is fully over, even if that is after midnight. By that custom the fire would be lit after Bhadra ends, between 5:16 AM and sunrise at 6:23 AM on 22 March. If your family or community follows that practice, follow it.

The story and the customs

Holika Dahan recalls the story of Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, and his aunt Holika, who tried to burn him and was burnt herself. Wikipedia's entry describes the ritual as symbolic of the victory of good over evil, and notes that people gather together for it.

Common customs include offering raw grain ears, coconut, and cow-dung cakes to the fire, and tying raw cotton thread around it. Customs vary a lot between regions.

• Be safe. Keep children back from the fire, and do not use plastics or tyres as fuel.
• In a flat or abroad, a small lamp with a short prayer is a common substitute for a bonfire, where open fires are not allowed.

For the rest of the year's festivals, see our Hindu festival calendar 2027.

How these times were worked out

Every date and time in this article was computed by Proper Pandit's own panchang engine for New Delhi (28.61°N, 77.21°E, Indian Standard Time). We then checked each one against Drik Panchang's page for New Delhi on 31 October 2026. Where the two differ, it is by a minute or two, which comes from rounding and small differences in how sunrise and the Moon are calculated. We round the start of a window up and the end down, so a window shown here never runs past the one you would get from a more exact calculation.

Your own city will differ. Sunrise and sunset move with latitude and longitude, so look up your city on our panchang page, and if your family priest or temple follows a different timing, follow them.

Questions people ask

What is the Holika Dahan muhurat in 2027? In New Delhi, 6:33 PM to 8:54 PM on Sunday 21 March 2027.

Is Holi on 21 or 22 March in 2027? Holika Dahan is the evening of Sunday 21 March. The colours are played on Monday 22 March.

Why does Bhadra matter? Bhadra (Vishti karana) is traditionally avoided for good work. In 2027 it runs past midnight, so Drik Panchang's rule puts the fire in Pradosh.

Can we light the fire after midnight? Some North Indian families wait for Bhadra to end. By that custom, the window is 5:16 AM to 6:23 AM on 22 March in New Delhi.