Why is Rang Panchami after Holi?

It's five days after Holi and in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra it's actually the bigger day, Indore's procession is famous. The traditional idea is that the colour is thrown into the air as an offering rather than at each other, to clear the atmosphere. It closes the Holi sequence.

Rang Panchami

रंग पंचमी · રંગ પંચમી

2026

8 March 2026

Sunday · Krishna Panchami

Tithi begins07:17 PM · 7 Mar

Tithi ends09:11 PM

Full panchang for this day

About

Chaitra Krishna Panchami, the official end of Holi celebrations. Colours are played in honour of the devas. Especially vibrant in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Falls on: Chaitra Krishna Panchami, five days after Holi.
Also called: Rangpanchami, Shimga (Maharashtra), Dhulivandan follow-on

The story

The colour is thrown not at people but into the air, as an offering to the deities, the idea being that the rajas and tamas in the atmosphere are dispersed and the divine element strengthened.

How it is observed

Dry colour thrown, processions, and in Maharashtra the Shimga celebrations of the Konkan with palanquins and folk performance. Indore's Rang Panchami procession with water cannon is famous.

Food

Puran poli in Maharashtra; gujiya and thandai continue from Holi.

Regional variation

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, in Indore and Malwa it is bigger than Holi itself. Not observed in the south or east. In Braj it's part of the extended Holi sequence.

Common questions

Why is Rang Panchami after Holi?: It's five days after Holi and in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra it's actually the bigger day, Indore's procession is famous. The traditional idea is that the colour is thrown into the air as an offering rather than at each other, to clear the atmosphere. It closes the Holi sequence.

Rang Panchami date in 2025 Rang Panchami date in 2027