Holi 2025 will start on Thursday, March 13th, and continue to Friday, March 14th. It will last for 2 days with the second day, March 14th, as the main Holi day in which the “battle of colors” will take place.
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a vibrant and joyous Hindu festival celebrated in India and Nepal. During Holi, people gather to play with colored powders, smearing each other in vibrant hues. The festival signifies the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
When Is Holi 2025?
Holi 2025 will begin on March 13th and celebrations continue to March 14th. It will last for 2 days. The first day is the day for the ritual burning of bonfires (Holika Dahan) and the second day is the main Holi day with the “color battles”. See the Holi 2025 schedule below:
| Date | Activities | Hindu Names | |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 13 (Thursday) | The day before Holi | Ritual burning of bonfires | Holika Dahan or Choti Holi |
| March 14 (Friday) | Holi (the main Holi day) | Playing with colors | Holi or Dhulandi or Dhuleti |
The Day before Holi: Holika Dahan (Thursday, March 13, 2025)
On the evening before Holi, people gather in open spaces to have a ritual bonfire known as Holika Dahan. They light a bonfire and then throw Holika statues (representative of evil in Hinduism) on the bonfire and burn them. This ritual signifies the triumph of good over evil.
People also gather around the bonfire, singing traditional songs to celebrate the triumph of devotion and righteousness over evil.
Holi: The Main Day of Holi ( Friday, March 14, 2025)
The main day of Holi, also known as the second day of Holi, Dhuleti Holi/Rangwali Holi, is known for the playful throwing of colored powders and water. Locals take to the streets, parks, and open spaces to smear each other with bright and vibrant colors.
They sing, dance, shout “Happy Holi”, and joyfully throw and smear colored powders on each other’s faces, hair, and clothing. Some people simply take the powder and spray themselves from head to toe. Other people may mix the colored powder with water and soak people they meet with a water bomb or water pistol.
This vivid “color battle” creates an incredibly colorful atmosphere.
Holi 2025 in in Vrindavan, Barsana, Mathura
In the Uttar Pradesh State including Vrindavan, Barsana, and Mathura, Holi starts on March 14 and ends on March 22 in 2025. The celebrations last around 10 days.
These areas host the most authentic Holi activities. From the renowned Laddoo Holi to the vibrant Lathmar Holi and the enchanting Flower Holi—all these unique celebrations take place in these areas.
7 Things You Should Not Do During Holi 2025
Although Holi is a joyous Hindu festival, it’s important to be aware of certain etiquettes and take precautions to protect your skin.
- 1. Avoid wearing a party dress or a dark color. Dark colors are associated with sorrow and bad luck, so are unsuitable for Holi.
- 2. Avoid wearing any makeup on the day of Holi as it could make it difficult to remove the colors from your skin.
- 3. Don’t throw colors at strangers. While it is common to celebrate Holi with friends, family, and even acquaintances, it is inappropriate to throw colors at strangers.
- 4. Don’t wear your most expensive clothes as the clothes may be stained with colors.
- 5. Don’t throw colors on cars and animals.
- 6. Don’t use synthetic colors, which could cause skin irritation and other health problems. Instead, use natural and organic colors made from flowers and herbs.
- 7. Don’t drink alcohol. There are hallucinogenic alcoholic drinks available during the festival, so keep your distance from such drinks and people who are drinking.
Holi Public Holidays 2025 in India
Holi is a significant festival in India. The day of the color fight (March 15th, 2025) is a public holiday in most states in the country.
On this holiday, public transportation stops, and shops and eateries typically shut in the morning, reopening later in the afternoon. Banks may remain closed for 2–3 days during the festivities.
There are seven states, however, in which Holi is not a public holiday: Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. These states do not have a public holiday for Holi because the festival is either celebrated differently or not celebrated at all.
The Best Places to Celebrate Holi 2025 in India
Holi is joyously celebrated across India. Generally, the older the city, the richer the traditional ambiance. If you seek an authentic festival experience, consider visiting these cities.
Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh
These are the two best places to celebrate Holi in India. There, you would see the traditional and unique Lathmar Holi. It is a unique celebration of Holi where women playfully hit men with colorful sticks symbolizing their love.
In addition to the lively Lathmar Holi, these cities host vibrant processions, accompanied by music and dance. Don’t miss the enchanting celebrations at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and the Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura.
Delhi
The capital city of India embraces Holi with great enthusiasm. Some popular areas for celebrations include the famous Holi parties at the Holi Cow Festival, community gatherings at various parks, and the traditional Holi celebration at the iconic Shri Banke Bihari Temple.
Goa
While Goa is primarily known for its beaches and nightlife, it also offers a unique twist to Holi celebrations. The Shigmotsav festival combines Holi with traditional music, dance, and parades, featuring vibrant floats and performers in colorful attire.
Anandpur Sahib
Holi celebrations in Anandpur Sahib are called Hola Mahalla. Apart from colorful festivities, it also has martial arts displays, mock battles, and other cultural activities.
Jaipur
In Jaipur, the royal family of Jaipur organizes a grand celebration at the City Palace, featuring dance performances, traditional music, and the throwing of colors. You could also see elephant parades and elephant beauty contests there.
Why Do People Throw Colors on Holi?
Holi is also called the “Festival of Colors” as, on that day, people throw colors at each other and smear each other in vibrant hues. Holi marks the beginning of spring and the victory of good over evil. The throwing of colors is seen as a way to celebrate the joy. The colors represent the vibrant and lively hues of spring as well as the different emotions and moods of people.
Why Holi Is Celebrated — the History and Origin
Holi is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and the end of winter. The festival has its roots in Hindu mythology and is associated with an interesting legend of Holika and Prahlad.
According to Hindu mythology, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashipu who was granted a boon that made him nearly indestructible. However, his son Prahlad was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu’s sister, Holika, had a special power that made her immune to fire. The demon king, wanting to eliminate his son, Prahlad, devised a plan to have Holika carry Prahlad into a bonfire. However, due to Prahlad’s unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu, he was protected, and Holika was burnt to death by the fire.
This victory of good over evil is celebrated on the first day of Holi, known as Holika Dahan. On this day, people burn statues of Holika to signify the triumph of good over evil.
