Holi 2026 & Chandra Grahan Clash: Is Holika Dahan on March 2 or 3? Check Exact Date, Sutak Kaal & Eclipse Time

Next week, most of India will celebrate Holi 2026, but just a day before the festival, a total lunar eclipse will also take place. As we know, Holika Dahan is observed a day prior to the actual Holi celebration, which will be on 4th March, but because of the Chandra Grahan 2026 coinciding with the Holika Dahan date, a lot of confusion is around whether Holika Dahan should be performed on March 2 or March 3. Here are the accurate Chandra Grahan timings, Holika Dahan date, muhurat, and dos & don'ts during the Chandra Grahan 2026.

When is Chandra Grahan 2026?

The total lunar eclipse, or Chandra Grahan, will occur on March 3rd on the day of Phalguna Purnima. As per Drik Panchang, the eclipse will first begin at 3:20 PM, and the maximum eclipse will be visible during 6:33 PM - 6:40 PM IST.

The Chandra Grahan will end at 6:47 PM IST and is 9 minutes and 33 seconds long.

The moonrise timing on the lunar eclipse day in India is around 6:20 to 6:30 PM IST.

Chandra Grahan 2026 Visibility in India

The Chandra Grahan in March 2026 will be visible across India after sunset if the skies are clear. The northeast region may get a slightly better view of the total lunar eclipse due to the earlier moonrise. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata will also witness the eclipse.

Since moonrise occurs around the peak of the eclipse, people in India will be able to see only the final 20-25 minutes of the total lunar eclipse, depending on local weather conditions. No special equipment is required. A lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye.

Sutak Kaal for Chandra Grahan 2026

As per Hindu tradition, Sutak Kaal begins 9 hours before the lunar eclipse and ends when the eclipse concludes.
As per Drik Panchang, the Sutak kaal during Chandra Grahan will begin around 6:20 AM IST on March 3rd and end at 6:47 PM IST. The lunar eclipse Sutak timing is very important because during this period, many religious & other activities are avoided.

Chandra Grahan 2026: Dos and Don'ts & What to Do During Lunar Eclipse

During Chandra Grahan on Holi, devotees follow specific rituals like

• Chant mantras and meditate
• Pray silently for spiritual purification
• Cover cooked food with Tulsi leaves.
• Donate to Brahmins or perform charity after the lunar eclipse ends

What Not to Do During Sutak

• Avoid eating or drinking (except for children, the elderly or the sick)
• No temple visits or Holika Dahan Puja during eclipse hours
• Pregnant women should remain indoors.
• Avoid cutting, stitching or using sharp objects.

Holika Dahan 2026: March 2 or March 3?

With the Holika Dahan & lunar eclipse falling on the same evening, the biggest confusion this year is whether Holika Dahan should be celebrated on March 3rd.

The answer is yes. According to most traditional Panchangs, the Holika Dahan 2026 date is March 3, after Bhadra Kaal ends. Since Holika Dahan is mostly done during the late night hours, the chandar grahan 2026 will have no impact on the celebration.

As per the Rishikesh panchang, the Purnima Tithi begins from March 2 at 5:55 PM IST till 5:07 PM on March 3rd. The Holika Dahan Muhurat is after Purnima ends, from 6:22 PM till 8:50 PM on March 3.

Since Sutak Kaal for Chandra Grahan begins at 6:20 AM on March 3, fire rituals are generally avoided during eclipse hours (3:20 PM - 6:47 PM IST).

Therefore, Holika Dahan should be performed after the eclipse ends, ideally after 6:47 PM within the muhurat window (6:22 PM - 8:50 PM).

However, some stricter traditions may perform Holika Dahan on March 2, the evening before Sutak begins. It is always advisable to consult a local priest for more accurate ritual observation.