Holi 2026: Holika Dahan on March 2 night; why won't Holi be celebrated on March 3?
Hoi 2026: Holi, the festival of colors, is the biggest festival of the year in Hinduism. This festival symbolizes love, brotherhood, and new beginnings and is celebrated with enthusiasm and joy throughout the country. According to popular belief, Holi is celebrated on the full moon day of Phalguna.
Astrologers say that according to tradition, Holika Dahan is performed at night, and Holi of colors is played the next morning. However, this time, due to the eclipse and the Sutak period, it is considered inappropriate to celebrate Holi on March 3. Therefore, all major almanacs and pundits recommend that Holi be celebrated on March 4, 2026.
Holika Dahan will be performed on the night of March 2
According to astrological calculations, this time Holi of colors will not be celebrated on March 3, but on March 4, 2026, across the country. Holika Dahan will be performed on the night of March 2.
According to the calendar, a lunar eclipse is occurring on the full moon day of Phalguna in 2026. In such a situation, according to tradition and scriptures, playing Holi with colors on the day of an eclipse is not considered auspicious. Therefore, playing Holi on this day is prohibited.
Due to the Bhadra period on this day, Holika Dahan time has been kept at night. Astrologers say that Holika Dahan should not be performed during the Bhadra period.
Therefore, the time between 12:50 am and 2:02 am on March 2 is considered auspicious for Holika Dahan.
Why will Holi not be celebrated on March 3?
According to astrology, no auspicious work is done during an eclipse and during the Sutak period. Therefore, playing Holi with colors on March 3 is not considered auspicious. This is why most pundits are advising to celebrate Holi on March 4.
When does the Sutak period begin?
According to astrologers, the Sutak period begins approximately 9 hours before the lunar eclipse. Calculations indicate that the Sutak period will begin on the morning of March 3. Therefore, auspicious festivals like Holi should be avoided on this day. It is also customary to abstain from religious activities during the Sutak period.
According to calculations, the moon will rise in India at approximately 5:59 p.m., and the eclipse's Moksha period will begin at approximately 6:47 p.m. The Sutak period will begin at approximately 6:20 a.m. on March 3, 2026. During the Sutak period, there is no tradition of performing pujas and auspicious activities.