Holi and Rang Panchami
The festival of colours: a Holi bonfire and puran poli on the full moon night, then colours on Dhulivandan and again on Rang Panchami.
Quick facts
- Month:
- Phalgun full moon, February or March
- Holika Dahan 2027:
- Sunday 21 March 2027, evening
- Dhulivandan 2027:
- Monday 22 March 2027
- Rang Panchami 2027:
- Saturday 27 March 2027
- Known for:
- Holi fire, puran poli, gulal and colours
Holi comes on the full moon of the Marathi month of Phalgun, in February or March, when winter ends and summer begins. In Maharashtra it is also called Shimga. It celebrates the win of good over evil, remembered in the story of young Prahlad, who was saved from the fire while the demoness Holika burnt.
Holika Dahan: the Holi fire
On the full moon evening, wood and cow dung cakes are piled up in society compounds, wadas and village squares, and the Holi is lit after a short puja. Families offer puran poli, the sweet flatbread made for this day, and walk around the fire with folded hands. It is a time to let go of the bad and start fresh.
Dhulivandan and Rang Panchami
The next morning is Dhulivandan, when friends and families smear gulal and colours on each other. In Maharashtra the bigger day of colours is often Rang Panchami, five days after the full moon, when many housing societies, colleges and groups of friends play with colours, music and dance.
Holi in Pune
In Pune the Holi fire is lit in many old peth lanes and in almost every housing society, and children wait all year for the colours. Societies and clubs hold rain dance and colour parties, and many Punekars travel to a farmhouse or resort for the day. Sweet shops sell puran poli, gujiya and thandai in the days before.
Play safe and save water
- Use dry gulal or natural colours made from flowers, turmeric and beetroot.
- Pune often faces water cuts by March, so a dry Holi saves a lot of water.
- Oil your hair and skin before you play, so the colour washes off easily.
- Keep colour away from eyes, and do not throw colour on people or animals who do not want it.
- Burn only dry wood and waste in the Holi fire, not plastic or tyres.
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More in Festivals of Pune
-
Shiv Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated on 19 February with processions and programmes.
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti The birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14 April, marked in Pune with tributes at his statues, processions, music and lectures through the day and night.
-
Navratri and Dasara
Nine nights of the goddess, with the Chaturshrungi fair, garba and dandiya, ending in Dasara: apta leaves as gold, Ravan dahan and new beginnings.
-
Diwali
The festival of lights: lamps, kandils, rangoli, faral and shopping crowds on Laxmi Road.
-
Palkhi (Ashadhi Wari)
Every year the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram pass through Pune with lakhs of Varkaris walking to Pandharpur.
-
Gudi Padwa
The Marathi New Year: a gudi at every door, neem and jaggery, shrikhand puri, and shobha yatras with dhol tasha across Pune.
Questions and answers
When is Holi in 2027?
Holika Dahan, the Holi fire, is on the evening of Sunday 21 March 2027, and colours are played on Dhulivandan, Monday 22 March 2027.
When is Rang Panchami in 2027?
Rang Panchami is on Saturday 27 March 2027, five days after Holi. In Maharashtra it is often the main day for playing with colours.
What food is made for Holi in Maharashtra?
Puran poli, a flatbread stuffed with sweet chana dal and jaggery, is offered to the Holi fire and eaten at home.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. 2027 dates checked against Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat and Hindu Blog on 15 October 2026.