In which Hindu month does Holi occur?

In which Hindu month does Holi occur? Holi occurs in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna.

The festival begins around the full moon, or Purnima, of Phalguna, a lunar month that generally falls in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. Because Hindu festival dates follow lunar and lunisolar calculations, Holi does not fall on the same Gregorian date every year.

Holi’s timing reflects its seasonal setting. It marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, and historically has also been associated with fertility, agriculture, and hopes for a good harvest. The night before the color festival is commonly marked by Holika Dahana, when communities light bonfires.

Phalguna is usually described as the twelfth and final month of the Hindu lunar calendar. It is followed by Chaitra, the month in which the Hindu lunar new year begins in many regional traditions. Regional calendars can differ in how months begin, but Phalguna remains the standard month associated with Holi.