Holi 2027: Dates, Types & Where to Celebrate Across India

Holi date, types of Holi across India, the complete Braj calendar, and hidden Himalayan festivals — everything you need to plan the perfect Holi trip.

When is Holi in 2027?

Holi 2027 falls on 22nd and 23rd March across most of India — with the bonfire ritual Holika Dahan on the evening of 22nd March, and the iconic colour play Rangwali Holi on 23rd March 2027.

But here’s what most travellers don’t know: Holi in India isn’t one event on one day. Depending on which part of India you travel to, the festival stretches from mid-March all the way to early April — and each version is a completely different experience.

What is Holi? The Story Behind the Colours

Holi isn’t just about drenching strangers in pink powder. It carries centuries of meaning.

The festival originates from the story of Prahlada, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, and his aunt Holika, who tried to destroy him in fire — only for the flames to spare him and consume her instead. The bonfire of Holika Dahan re-enacts that victory of devotion over evil.

The tradition of throwing colours traces back to Lord Krishna, who — famously mischievous — is said to have playfully coloured Radha and the Gopis of Vrindavan. That spirit of joy, love, and playful chaos lives on in every splash of gulal thrown today.

Holi also marks the farewell of winter and the arrival of spring — a time of new beginnings, forgiveness of old grudges, and coming together across caste, class, and community.

The Braj & Beyond Holi 2027 Calendar: India’s Greatest Festival Season

The Braj region of Uttar Pradesh — home to Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon and Gokul — is the spiritual heartland of Holi. While the rest of India celebrates for a day or two, Braj celebrates for over 10 days, with each town running its own signature event rooted in the mythology of Radha and Krishna. And in the Himalayas, the celebrations continue well into late March.

Here is the complete date-wise Holi 2027 calendar across India:

Date	Day	Event	Location
16 March	Tuesday	Laddu Holi	Radha Rani Temple, Barsana
17 March	Wednesday	Lathmar Holi	Barsana (Navami Tithi)
18 March	Thursday	Lathmar Holi	Nandgaon
18 March	Thursday	Rangbhari Ekadashi + Masan Ki Holi Day 1	Kashi Vishwanath Temple & Harishchandra Ghat, Varanasi
19 March	Friday	Masan Ki Holi (Main)	Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi
20 March	Saturday	Widow Holi	Vrindavan
22 March	Monday	Holika Dahan	All of Braj; across India
22 March	Monday	Sangla Holi — Day 1	Sangla Valley, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
23 March	Tuesday	Rangwali Holi (Main Holi)	Mathura, Vrindavan, and all of India
23 March	Tuesday	Sangla Holi — Day 2	Sangla Valley, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
24 March	Wednesday	Sangla Village Processions	Surrounding villages, Sangla Valley
25–29 March	Thu–Mon	Raulane Festival (dates to be confirmed locally)	Kalpa & Kinnaur villages, Himachal Pradesh

The festival season truly ignites after Rangbhari Ekadashi (18 March) — the day Lord Shiva is believed to return to Kashi with Goddess Parvati, triggering both the Varanasi Holi and the final sprint of Braj celebrations.

The Different Types of Holi Celebrated in India

India doesn’t do Holi in one flavour. Here are the most spectacular regional versions — each one a reason to plan a trip:

1. Laddu Holi — Barsana, Uttar Pradesh

When: 16 March 2027 (Tuesday)

The Braj season opens not with sticks or gulal — but with sweets. At the Radha Rani Temple in Barsana, priests and devotees playfully throw laddus instead of colours. It’s devotional, joyous, and relatively intimate — a beautiful way to ease into the Braj Holi season before the crowds arrive.

Best for: Those who want to begin the Braj journey early, devotees, families

2. Lathmar Holi — Barsana & Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh

When: 17 March — Barsana (Navami Tithi) | 18 March — Nandgaon | 2027

The most iconic variant of Holi on the planet. In Barsana — Radha’s village — women playfully beat men from Nandgaon (Krishna’s village) with wooden lathis, while the men defend themselves with leather shields and try to drench the women with colour. The next day the roles reverse in Nandgaon. It re-enacts the mythological tale of Krishna teasing the Gopis. The Shri Radhika Temple overflows with devotees, gulal clouds the air, and folk musicians fill the lanes with sound.

Best for: Mythology lovers, photographers, bucket-list travellers

3. Phoolon Wali Holi (Flower Holi) — Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

When: Around 18–19 March 2027

At the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, priests shower devotees with tonnes of rose petals and marigolds instead of colour powders. The air turns fragrant and golden. This is Holi at its most devotional and visually stunning — dedicated to the pure love of Radha and Krishna. Far gentler than the street celebrations, it attracts those who want the spiritual essence of Holi without the chaos.

Best for: Spiritual travellers, those who want Holi without the colour free-for-all

4. Masan Ki Holi (Ash Holi) — Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

When: 18 March — Harishchandra Ghat (Rangbhari Ekadashi) | 19 March — Manikarnika Ghat (Main) | 2027

Nothing in India prepares you for Masan Ki Holi. While the rest of the country gears up for gulal and water guns, the ancient city of Varanasi pauses to celebrate the most mystical and intense version of Holi imaginable — at its cremation grounds, with ash from funeral pyres instead of colour.

Masan means cremation ground. The ritual is observed at Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat — two of the most sacred, continuously burning ghats in India — by Aghori sadhus, Shaivite devotees, and priests. According to legend, after celebrating Holi with Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva descended to the cremation grounds and played Holi with spirits and ascetics using sacred ash (bhasma). The ash doesn’t represent morbidity here — it represents impermanence, liberation, and the eternal cycle of creation and dissolution.

Nearly 20,000 people gather at Manikarnika Ghat. Over 150 kilograms of ash are used during the celebrations, mixed with gulal to create a surreal and haunting visual. The ritual is not a performance for tourists — it is a living spiritual practice. Visitors are welcome to observe, but should approach with deep respect.

In 2027, the two-day sequence begins on 18 March at Harishchandra Ghat — the same day as Rangbhari Ekadashi, when Lord Shiva is believed to return to Kashi with Goddess Parvati and special rituals are held at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The main and more intense celebration follows on 19 March at Manikarnika Ghat.

Best for: Serious travellers, spiritual seekers, those looking for a profound and unconventional experience

5. Chhadi Maar Holi — Gokul, Uttar Pradesh

When: Around 19–20 March 2027

In Gokul — the village where the infant Krishna was secretly raised — the tradition of Chhadi Maar Holi carries forward another playful chapter of his mythology. Women ceremonially strike men with sticks (chhadi) in a lighter, more devotional echo of the Lathmar tradition. The atmosphere in Gokul is quieter and more intimate than Barsana.

Best for: Those doing the full Braj circuit, travellers seeking a lesser-crowded Holi experience

6. Huranga (Dauji Holi) — Baldev, near Mathura

When: 23 March 2027 (day after Rangwali Holi)

The final chapter of Braj Holi, celebrated at the Dauji Temple in Baldev the day after Rangwali Holi. Huranga is high-energy, exuberant, and distinctly local — a fitting crescendo to the entire 10-day Braj season.

Best for: Those staying on in Braj to experience the full arc of the festival

7. Rangwali Holi / Dhulandi — Mathura, Vrindavan, Delhi, Jaipur

When: 23 March 2027

The version the whole world knows. Streets, terraces, and open grounds become a canvas of red, blue, green, and yellow. Mathura and Vrindavan host week-long celebrations leading up to this day. Jaipur brings a royal edge — folk performances and processions from the City Palace. Delhi hosts large public events across the city.

Best for: First-time Holi travellers, group trips, maximum energy and celebration

8. Hola Mohalla — Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

When: 22–24 March 2027 (the day of and after Holi, extended over three days)

Introduced by Guru Gobind Singh as a counterpart to Holi, Hola Mohalla is the Sikh community’s festival of strength and courage. Martial arts displays, mock battles, Gatka performances, and massive community feasts (langars) replace colour play. The sheer scale of devotion and skill on display is humbling.

Best for: Cultural immersion, travellers interested in Sikh heritage, those seeking something beyond colours

9. Widow Holi — Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

When: 20 March 2027

For decades, widows in India were socially barred from celebrating Holi — considered inauspicious, they were expected to observe the festival in silence and grey. At the Pagal Baba Ashram in Vrindavan, that changes. On the day before Holika Dahan, hundreds of widows — many of them elderly women who have lived in Vrindavan’s ashrams for years — gather to play Holi with flowers and gulal, dressed in white saris gradually transforming to pink and red.

This is one of the most quietly powerful images in all of India’s festival landscape: women reclaiming colour, joy, and visibility in the very city associated with Krishna’s eternal celebration of life. Widow Holi has grown steadily in recognition and now draws attention from across the world. The atmosphere is deeply emotional and warmly communal.

Best for: Travellers seeking depth over spectacle, those interested in social change, photographers

10. Sangla Holi (Faguli Festival) — Sangla Valley, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

When: 22–23 March 2027 (Holi days) | 24 March 2027 (Village Processions)

Hidden in Himachal Pradesh’s Baspa Valley, at the foot of the Kinner Kailash range, is one of the most visually breathtaking and culturally rich ways to experience Holi in India. In Sangla, the festival is part of a four-day Faguli celebration — a unique blend of Holi and Diwali that belongs entirely to the Kinnauri people.

The Faguli Festival marks the end of long Himalayan winter isolation and the arrival of spring. On the first days, villagers gather at the Nag Temple for prayers and ritual offerings. Traditional Kinnauri instruments — dhol, karnal, shehnai — lead processions through the village. On 21 March, Holika Dahan is observed in the Kinnauri tradition. On 22 March, the main Holi day, the entire valley gathers at Sangla Chowk dressed in white, playing Gulaal wali Holi — and, in the Himachal tradition, with snow. The evening brings oil lamps, reminiscent of Diwali, casting a warm glow against the snow-white peaks.

On 23 March, the celebrations spill beyond the village centre. Traditional processions wind their way to surrounding villages — a moving, musical spectacle where the deity is carried through the valley accompanied by folk music, dance, and community ritual. This is the part most travellers miss, and often the most intimate and memorable day of the entire festival.

For international visitors: Kinnaur is a protected area requiring an Inner Line Permit (ILP), which should be applied for at least 30 days in advance. March temperatures in Sangla range from 10°C in the day to -5°C at night. Heavy woolens are essential, and road closures due to snowfall are possible.

Best for: Adventure travellers, photographers, those who want Holi against a Himalayan backdrop unlike any other

11. Raulane Festival — Kalpa & Kinnaur Villages, Himachal Pradesh

When: 24–28 March 2027 (indicative — confirm locally, as exact dates vary by village)

If Sangla Holi is extraordinary, Raulane is otherworldly.

Celebrated in Kalpa and surrounding villages in Kinnaur, Raulane is one of the oldest surviving winter-spring traditions in the Himalayas — with local oral tradition claiming it is over 5,000 years old. The festival marks the farewell of the Saunis — celestial fairy-spirits believed to descend from the mountains during winter to protect villages from the harsh cold. As spring arrives, the community gathers to thank these spirits and ceremonially bid them farewell.

The centrepiece is extraordinary: two men — the Raula (groom) and the Raulane (bride) — are dressed in elaborate traditional Kinnauri women’s attire, adorned with antique silver and gold jewellery. They perform a slow, meditative ritual dance at the sacred Santang and Nagin Narayan Temple, believed to harmonise the human world with the celestial realm. Accompanying them are Zannpundulu — masked figures who symbolically chase away evil spirits. Villagers link arms in the Kayang folk dance. Sattu (barley flour) is thrown at onlookers, echoing the spirit of Holi. The whole festival spans 5–9 days and unfolds across multiple villages, each on their own temple-set timeline.

Raulane went viral in recent years — the images of masked figures in colourful traditional dress dancing against snow-covered Himalayan peaks are unlike anything else in India’s festival calendar. But the experience on the ground is far more intimate and sacred than any image conveys.

Note: Exact dates vary by village based on local temple traditions and astrological calculations. Confirm with Kinnaur district administration closer to travel.

Best for: Travellers seeking something truly ancient and unseen, Himachal Pradesh enthusiasts, photographers, cultural anthropology lovers

12. Dol Jatra / Basanta Utsav — West Bengal

When: 22 March 2027

In West Bengal, Holi is called Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima. The festival centres on processions carrying idols of Radha and Krishna on decorated swings, accompanied by devotional songs. Shantiniketan — the historic university town founded by Rabindranath Tagore — hosts the most famous version, Basanta Utsav, where students perform classical music and dance in traditional attire before the colours come out. It’s Holi at its most artistic and culturally layered.

Best for: Art and culture lovers, travellers interested in Tagore’s Bengal

13. Manjal Kuli — Kerala

When: Around the same period as Holi

Kerala barely celebrates Holi in its northern form — but the Kudumbi and Konkani communities around Guruvayur celebrate Manjal Kuli, where turmeric-mixed water is splashed on friends and fellow devotees. Yellow, not red or pink, is the colour of this festival. It carries themes of purification and renewal that are distinctly South Indian.

Best for: Travellers exploring lesser-known festival India, Kerala enthusiasts

14. Phaguwa — Bihar

When: Begins around Basant Panchami, peaks at Holi full moon

In Bihar, Holi is called Phaguwa — and it’s not just one day. The celebration begins weeks before with folk songs called Phaguwa geet, sung to the rhythms of dholak and manjira. In villages, Dhurkheli brings mud-splashed revels, while in towns like Patna and Munger, the boisterous tradition of kurta faad (tearing each other’s shirts) adds a raucous local touch. Plates of malpua make their way around every neighbourhood.

Best for: Travellers seeking deeply authentic, off-the-beaten-path festival India

15. Kumaoni Holi — Uttarakhand

When: Nearly two months of celebrations, climaxing on Holi day

In the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, Holi is a musical marathon. Starting weeks before the full moon, communities gather for Baithki Holi (sitting classical music sessions) and Khadi Holi (standing performances in fields and courtyards). Classical ragas associated with spring — Kafi, Peelu, Bhairavi — are sung night after night. This is Holi for the ears as much as the eyes.

Best for: Music lovers, Uttarakhand trekkers, those wanting a slower and deeper festival experience

16. Rang Panchami — Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh

When: Five days after Holi (around 27 March 2027)

While Maharashtra celebrates Holi, the grand finale comes five days later with Rang Panchami. In Indore, massive processions called ger wind through streets with colours flying from rooftops and trucks. In Malwa (MP), it is one of the biggest street festivals of the year.

Best for: Travellers who miss Holi day, those interested in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra culture

17. Doul Utsav — Assam

When: 22 March 2027

Assam celebrates its own version of Holi called Doul Utsav or Doul Festival. Idols of Radha and Krishna are carried in processions on decorated palanquins called doul (swings). The celebrations blend Vaishnava devotion with Bihu-influenced folk performances — uniquely Assamese in flavour.

Best for: Northeast India travellers, those combining the trip with Kaziranga or Majuli

Where to Go for Holi: Quick Decision Guide

You want…	Go to…
The full Braj experience over many days	Mathura → Barsana → Vrindavan circuit
The most iconic Holi on earth	Barsana (Lathmar Holi, 17 Mar)
Flowers instead of powder	Vrindavan (Phoolon Wali Holi, ~18 Mar)
The most mystical, unconventional Holi	Varanasi (Masan Ki Holi, 19 Mar)
A deeply moving, emotional experience	Vrindavan (Widow Holi, 20 Mar)
Holi in the Himalayas with snow	Sangla Valley (Faguli, 21–22 Mar)
The procession through the valley	Sangla surroundings (23 Mar)
Something truly ancient and unseen	Kalpa, Kinnaur (Raulane, 24–28 Mar)
Culture & classical arts	Shantiniketan, West Bengal
Sikh heritage & martial arts	Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
A royal Holi	Udaipur, Rajasthan
A 2-month music festival	Kumaon, Uttarakhand
Something nobody else is doing	Bihar (Phaguwa), Kerala (Manjal Kuli)

What to Know Before You Go

Colours: Use natural, organic gulal where possible — synthetic colours can irritate skin and eyes. Mathura and Vrindavan increasingly use flower-based colours.

Clothing: Wear white if you want the full colour experience — it’s the classic choice. Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining. Cover your hair with a scarf or cap.

Safety: Travel in groups, especially in large public celebrations. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch. Women travellers should be aware that crowded Holi events in cities can get rowdy.

Timing: For Barsana’s Lathmar Holi, arrive by 9–10am. For Masan Ki Holi at Manikarnika Ghat, late evening is when it intensifies. Rangwali Holi is typically most intense between 10am–1pm.

Himalayan travel: For Sangla and Kinnaur (Raulane), international visitors need an Inner Line Permit. March temperatures are sub-zero at night. Roads can close due to snowfall — build buffer days into your itinerary.

Masan Ki Holi — visitor etiquette: This is an active cremation ground, not a tourist spectacle. Photography near funeral pyres is strongly discouraged. Attend with reverence, not curiosity.

Food: Don’t leave without trying Gujiya (sweet dumplings), Thandai (a milk-based drink, sometimes infused with bhang), Mathri, and Dahi Bhalla. These are the flavours of Holi.

Plan Your Holi Trip with Travebrate

Holi travel isn’t plug-and-play. The dates shift each year. Barsana’s Lathmar Holi happens 8 days before the main festival. Varanasi’s Masan Ki Holi requires local knowledge to time right. Sangla needs an Inner Line Permit sorted weeks in advance. Raulane’s dates vary by village. And if you want to string together Barsana → Vrindavan → Varanasi → a Himalayan finish — the logistics need expert hands.

That’s where Travebrate comes in.

We don’t book flights or hotels — we hand-stitch your festival itinerary so that every moment is accounted for. Which Holi celebration matches your interests. Which day to be where. What to do around the festival. How to experience it like a traveller who did their homework.

Tell us where you’re starting from, how many days you have, and what kind of Holi speaks to you — and we’ll build your itinerary around it.

Holi is celebrated differently across India’s states and communities. Dates mentioned are based on the Hindu calendar for 2027.