In Gujarat the full-moon night of Fagan is Holi, when the bonfire is lit, and the morning after is Dhuleti, when colour is played. At the fire people walk round with a pot of water, and offer coconuts, dates and popped grain. The great pilgrimage of the day is to Dakor, where hundreds of thousands arrive on foot for the Fagan Poonam fair of Ranchhodraiji.
The story
The fire is Holika's, in which the boy Prahlad was saved. In Gujarat the day is also Krishna's: at Dakor and Dwarka he is offered colour before anyone else, and the Pushtimarg temples have been singing the spring songs of Braj for forty days.
In the Dang hills the tribal chiefs gather for the Dang Darbar in the days before Holi, a durbar that dates from British times and is now a fair of dance and trade.
How it is kept
- Holika DahanAfter sunset; a coconut is roasted in the fire and brought home as prasad.
- Dhani, chana and khajurPopped sorghum, roasted gram and dates are the food of Holi.
- DhuletiColour and water from morning until noon.
- Padyatra to DakorWalking pilgrims fill the highways for days before the full moon.
- MatkiIn some towns a pot of buttermilk is hung high and broken by a pyramid of boys.
Why this date
The Holi fire is lit on the evening of Fagan Poonam once Bhadra has passed. Dhuleti is the next day, and is the date shown here.
Holi and Dhuleti in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Friday | |
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Thursday | |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
More Gujarati festivals
15 FebruaryMaha Shivaratriમહાશિવરાત્રી
19 MarchChaitra Navratriચૈત્રી નવરાત્રી
26 MarchRam Navamiરામ નવમી
25 JanuaryRatha Saptamiરથ સપ્તમી
14 JanuaryUttarayanઉત્તરાયણ
2 AprilHanuman Jayantiહનુમાન જયંતી
Where to see Holi and Dhuleti
In Gujarat
- Ranchhodraiji Temple, DakorGujaratThe Fagan Poonam fair, the largest gathering of the year at Gujarat's favourite Krishna.
- Dwarkadhish Temple, DwarkaGujaratFuldol Utsav, when colour is thrown in the temple.
- Ahwa, DangGujaratThe Dang Darbar, the tribal gathering before Holi.
Across India
- BarsanaUttar PradeshLathmar Holi in Radha's village.
- NathdwaraRajasthanShrinathji, the chief seat of the Pushtimarg, much visited from Gujarat.
- SantiniketanWest BengalBasanta Utsav, Tagore's spring festival, kept in yellow.