Holi Grahan 2026: Did You Know It is a Rare Hat-trick of Holi and Lunar Eclipse This Year?
Discover the astronomical marvel of 2026 as Holi coincides with a Total Lunar Eclipse for the third consecutive year. Learn about the Sutak Kaal significance, shifted Holika Dahan timings, and how 2024, 2025, and 2026 created this rare celestial hat-trick.
As India prepares for the vibrant festivities of Holi next week on March 3, 2026, astronomers and astrologers alike are buzzing about a spectacular alignment. For the third consecutive year, the festival of colours is coinciding with a major celestial event: a Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan).
While a single eclipse landing on a major festival is noteworthy, a three-year streak is a staggering astronomical anomaly. Here is an in-depth look at how the cosmos pulled off this rare "hat-trick" and why the 2026 eclipse will disrupt traditions in a way the previous two did not. Also Read: 'Kab Hai Holi' Meme Origin and the Funniest 2026 Holi Date Memes.
The 2024–2026 Celestial Hat-Trick on Holi: A Tale of Three Eclipses
Astronomically, a Lunar Eclipse can only occur during a Full Moon (Purnima). Because Holi always falls on Phalguna Purnima, the math makes a coincidence possible. However, the Earth, Moon, and Sun aligning perfectly on this exact date for three years straight is incredibly rare.
Here is how the hat-trick of Grahan on Holi played out:
Year 1: Holi on March 25, 2024 (The Invisible Grahan)
The streak began with a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. It was a very faint event where the moon only passed through the outer edges of Earth’s shadow. Because it was not visible in India, the traditional Sutak Kaal (inauspicious period) did not apply, and Holi went off without a hitch.
Year 2: Holi on March 14, 2025 (The Daytime Blood Moon)
Last year brought a spectacular Total Lunar Eclipse. However, it peaked around 12:29 PM IST. Because the eclipse happened during broad daylight in India, the "Blood Moon" was hidden below the horizon, visible only to the Americas and Western Europe. Again, with no local visibility, Sutak Kaal was waived, and celebrations were uninterrupted.
Year 3: Holi on March 3, 2026 (The Blood Moon in India)
Next week brings the grand finale of the streak: another Total Lunar Eclipse. This time, the circumstances have dramatically shifted. The eclipse will occur during the late afternoon and evening hours, making it fully visible across India.
The 2024–2026 Holi Eclipse Hat-Trick
| Year | Holi Date (Purnima) | Eclipse Type | Visibility in India | Sutak Kaal Applicable? | Impact on Rituals |
| 2024 | March 25 | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | No | No | None. Celebrations proceeded normally. |
| 2025 | March 14 | Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon) | No (Occurred during daytime) | No | None. Celebrations proceeded normally. |
| 2026 | March 3 | Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon) | Yes (Afternoon/Evening) | Yes (Starts early morning) | Major. Holika Dahan muhurat shifted to late night/pre-dawn to avoid the eclipse shadow. |
Why Holi Grahan in 2026 Changes Everything: The Impact of Sutak Kaal
The crucial difference this year is visibility. In Hindu tradition, if an eclipse is visible to the naked eye in a specific region, the rules of Sutak Kaal become mandatory.
For a lunar eclipse, this inauspicious window begins 9 hours before the event. This effectively renders almost the entire day of March 3rd restricted for religious rituals until the eclipse concludes late at night.
The most significant casualty of this timing is the Holika Dahan (the ritual bonfire). Typically performed during the Pradosh Kaal (just after sunset), this window now falls squarely within the eclipse period, a time when performing Pujas is strictly forbidden.
Consequently, priests across the country have drastically shifted the muhurats (auspicious timings) for Holika Dahan to very late in the night, after the moon clears the Earth's shadow, or to the pre-dawn hours of March 4th. Also Read: Chandra Grahan on Holi 2026: India Visibility of Lunar Eclipse, Timings, Sutak Kaal, and Impact on Holika Dahan.
Looking Back: When Light Meets Shadow on Holi Festival
Before this current streak, the last time a Lunar Eclipse heavily disrupted Holi was almost two decades ago, on March 3, 2007. That, too, was a Total Lunar Eclipse that fell exactly on Holika Dahan, forcing similar late-night adjustments to the bonfire rituals.
Holi is fundamentally a celebration of light triumphing over darkness, represented by the burning of Holika. A Lunar Eclipse, conversely, represents a temporary period where the moon's nourishing light is swallowed by shadow. While the astronomical alignment of a Lunar Eclipse and Phalguna Purnima has been a constant for the past three years, the practical reality for devotees could not be more different this time around. The 2024 and 2025 events were mere celestial footnotes for those celebrating in India, completely masked by daylight or geographic positioning. However, 2026 brings the shadow directly to our doorstep. This rare hat-trick culminates in a year where astronomy demands a tangible shift in our traditions, reminding us that even our most ancient, light-filled festivals must occasionally pause to respect the cosmic dance of the sun, earth, and moon. As you prepare your colours for next week, ensure you check your local muhurat timings so your Holika Dahan aligns perfectly with the stars.
(Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on beliefs and legends only. Before applying any information in real life, consult the concerned expert.)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2026 01:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).