Holi in Bengaluru
होली · बेंगलुरु
Dates for Bengaluru are being computed; check back after the next daily update.
| City | Bengaluru, India |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Asia/Kolkata |
| Tithi / timing | Phalguna Purnima (Holika Dahan) + next day |
| Deity | Vishnu / Krishna |
| Observance | Colours, Holika Dahan |
| Where | Pan-India |
Date and timing in this city
In Bengaluru, Holi follows the same tithi reckoning used across India: Phalguna Purnima, the full moon of the lunar month of Phalguna. The observance spans two parts — Holika Dahan on the evening of Phalguna Purnima, and the play of colours on the following day.
For Bengaluru specifically, the computed dates are:
- 2026: Tuesday 3 March 2026
- 2027: Sunday 21 March 2027
These dates are worked out for Bengaluru's own sunrise and the local position of the moon, within the Asia/Kolkata time zone. Holika Dahan is traditionally observed after sunset on the Purnima evening, and the colours are associated with the day that follows. Because the tithi is measured from the city's own sunrise, the day assigned to the festival is the one that applies to Bengaluru, not to another location.
Why the date can differ from India
It is common to see Holi listed under a single "India" date. That single date is a convenience, not a rule. Purnima does not begin and end at the same clock moment everywhere, and each city's panchangam ties the tithi to its own sunrise. Where the tithi is current at sunrise, that day carries the festival; where it is not, the observance shifts.
This is why Bengaluru's date can sit a day away from what a national listing shows, and why the same is true for other cities. Traditions also differ in how the month is counted — amanta and purnimanta reckonings, and Smarta and Vaishnava conventions, do not always align on naming and sequence. Rather than pick one as correct, it is best to follow the panchangam followed in your own household or region, and to consult a qualified jyotishi for personal chart questions.
Where and how the community celebrates
The deity associated with the observance is Vishnu, and by extension Krishna. The festival is pan-India in reach, and Bengaluru is no exception: households and neighbourhoods mark it in ways that reflect the many communities settled in the city.
Typically, the evening of Holika Dahan is observed with a fire, marking the burning away of what is old. The next day brings colours — dry powders and water — along with sweets, visits between neighbours, and gatherings of family and friends. Because Bengaluru draws people from across the country, both northern and southern customs can be seen side by side, and the details vary from street to street and home to home.
Practical tips
- Confirm the local timings with your family panchangam or a trusted jyotishi, since the tithi is reckoned for Bengaluru's sunrise.
- Note both parts of the observance: Holika Dahan on the Purnima evening, colours the following day.
- Expect variation in custom across communities; follow the practice of your own tradition.
- If you keep a personal vrata or ritual, have your chart read by a qualified jyotishi rather than relying on general dates.