Holi is a favorite festival for Hindus around the world, and after the day of Holi, celebrations do not stop in some areas. They are extended for 5 more days, and ends with Rang Panchami, where devotees play Holi again, with flowers and colors, with friends and gods.
Five days after Holi, Rang Panchami is celebrated in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and some areas of North India.
When is Rang Panchami in 2025?
Panchami date is celebrated on the fifth day to Rang Panchami, or after the day of Holi. In 2025, greetings Panchami will be played on Wednesday, March 19, as Holi was on 14 March.
According to Drick Panchang, “Ranga Panchami Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Panchami date begins – 10:09 pm on March 18, 2025
Panchami date ends – 12:36 AM on March 20, 2025 ”
Why is Rang Panchami celebrated?
In the last few decades, Rang has become an important part of Holi after Panchami festival. And when the celebration is limited to some areas, there is a certain attraction in playing Holi again with the gods and loved ones. It is believed that playing with colors on this day purifies the atmosphere by inviting divine energies.
According to popular Vidya, people play Range Panchami as a mirror of how Lord Krishna played the role of Holi in Vrindavan with Radha Rani, Gopis, her brother and sister and people of Vrindavan.
Rituals of Rang Panchami
Rang Panchami is observed with a mixture of devotion and celebration. Like Holi, people apply color and gulal to each other, temples and roads are covered with flowers, decorations and water balloons, and large processions are also performed at some places, which features music, folk dances and drivers.
People also offer special prayers and rituals in temples, and as the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, it is a symbol of eternal love and happiness.
And as no festive is complete without food, people also prepare special dishes to celebrate the day, not a very grand feast in the form of Holi, but Purana Poli, Gujia, Malpua, and more dishes like dishes.
Panchami ceremony around India
Rang Panchami, although not widely observed as Holi, is still observed with pomp, love and energy in some areas. In cities, people decorate temples with flowers, garlands and rangoli, and temples have special programs, which are with mantras, kirtans and mantras. And even inside the temples, there are water splashes, colors and processions. There is also ‘Gulal Utsav’, where people stain Gulal not only on each other, but also on the idols of the gods.
There is a huge procession on the streets, dhol performance and joy.
Some people also chant Krishna Leela and mantras and admire his name.
