Key takeaways
- Holika Dahan: Sunday, March 21, 2027
- Holi (colours): Monday, March 22, 2027
- Toronto muhurat: 7:31 PM to 9:52 PM; Vancouver: 7:27 PM to 9:48 PM (Drik Panchang)
- Most Canadian Holi parties move to the nearest weekend, often indoors, because March is cold
- Gifts are usually sweets, clothes and colours; silver or a small gold coin suits a special occasion
When is Holi 2027 in Canada?
Holi falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Phalguna. The bonfire, Holika Dahan, is lit on the evening of the full moon. The day of colours, also called Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi, is always the next day.
| Toronto | Vancouver | |
|---|---|---|
| Holika Dahan | Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Sunday, March 21, 2027 |
| Holika Dahan muhurat | 7:31 PM to 9:52 PM | 7:27 PM to 9:48 PM |
| Bhadra Mukha (avoid) | 5:01 PM to 6:50 PM | 2:01 PM to 3:50 PM |
| Purnima tithi | 8:51 AM Mar 21 to 6:43 AM Mar 22 | 5:51 AM Mar 21 to 3:43 AM Mar 22 |
| Holi (colours) | Monday, March 22, 2027 | Monday, March 22, 2027 |
Source: Drik Panchang, with the city set to Toronto and Vancouver. Times are local daylight time. In India, Holika Dahan is also on March 21 and Holi on March 22.
Drik Panchang advises against lighting the Holika fire during Bhadra Mukha. The 2027 muhurat in both cities is after sunset, in the Pradosh period.
What does Holi celebrate?
Holi is the Hindu festival of colours and the welcome of spring. Its story centres on Prahlad, a young devotee of Lord Vishnu. His father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, wanted him dead. Holika, the king's sister, sat in a fire with Prahlad in her lap. By Vishnu's grace, Prahlad stayed safe and Holika burned. The bonfire on Holika Dahan night recalls this story, and many people see it as the victory of good over evil.
The next day, people throw coloured powder and coloured water on each other. Traditionally the colours came from flowers such as tesu (flame of the forest). Friends and family visit, share sweets like gujiya, and old arguments are set aside.
How is Holi celebrated in Canada?
In late March, much of Canada is still cold and some places still have snow. So Canadian Holi looks a little different:
- Weekend parties. Many temples, student groups and community centres hold Holi events on the closest weekend, in 2027 likely March 20 and 21 or March 27 and 28. Check event pages for confirmed dates.
- Indoor or short outdoor play. Some events use indoor halls or quick outdoor sessions on a mild afternoon.
- Safe colours. Choose skin-safe, plant-based colours and wash off soon after. Protect eyes, phones and car seats.
- Holika fire. Most families do a small symbolic puja at home or join a temple's ceremony. A real bonfire needs to follow your city's open-air burning rules.
Is gold part of Holi?
Not as a rule. Holi is not a gold-buying festival like Dhanteras or Akshaya Tritiya. Gifts are usually sweets, clothes and colours. Gold enters the picture when Holi lines up with a family milestone, such as a newlywed's first Holi or a new baby. Then a small piece is a lasting gift.
If you do buy gold around Holi:
- Know the karat. 24K is 99.9% gold, 22K is 91.6% (often stamped 916), 18K is 75%, 14K is 58.5%, 10K is 41.7%.
- Ask for the weight in grams and the making charge, and compare two or three stores.
- White clothes and gold go well together for Holi photos, but take jewellery off before you play with colours. Wet colour can stick in settings and stain softer metals.
If you want something very small, RemitBee Gold, a new product coming in early 2027, plans to let you buy pure 24K gold from $10. The waitlist is at gold.remitbee.com.
What do you say on Holi?
The simplest greeting is Happy Holi. In Hindi, people often shout "Holi hai!" ("It's Holi!") as they throw colour, and "Bura na mano, Holi hai" ("Don't be upset, it's Holi") when someone gets a surprise splash. For a card or message, "Wishing you a colourful and happy Holi" works for friends, family and colleagues.
If you are inviting non-Hindu friends or coworkers to a Holi party, tell them to wear old clothes they do not mind staining, and to bring a change of clothes and a towel for the drive home.
What are good Holi gift ideas?
- A box of gujiya, barfi or other mithai
- Natural, skin-safe colour kits for children
- A white kurta or kurti for the day
- Silver coins or a silver pooja set for the home
- For a newlywed's first Holi: light gold earrings, a nose pin or a small pendant
Coming next: Ugadi and Gudi Padwa on April 7, then Vaisakhi on April 14 and Akshaya Tritiya on May 8, 2027 in Canada.
To check the value of a gold gift, use our gold value calculator and compare it with the gold price in India if you are buying for family there.