Dol Jatra Festival 2026

Full Date

3 March 2026 Morning 6:00 AM – 3 March 2026 Evening 8:00 PM

Muhurat Timings in India

• Dola Utsav Procession

  The idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are paraded through streets on decorated palanquins while devotees chant ‘Hari Bol’.

  3 March 2026 10:00 AM – 3 March 2026 4:00 PM

• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanti

  Celebrated on the same day as Dol Purnima to mark the birth of the 15th-century saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who spread Krishna devotion.

  3 March 2026 6:00 PM – 3 March 2026 8:00 PM

Introduction

Dol Jatra, also called Dol Purnima or Dolyatra, is the Bengali version of Holi celebrated with devotion and grace in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam. The festival celebrates the eternal love of Radha and Krishna, marked by colorful processions, swinging idols, and joyous chants of ‘Hari Bol’.

Other Names

Dol Purnima, Dolyatra, Bengali Holi, Swing Festival

Pooja Vidhi

• Wake early, bathe, and wear white or light-colored traditional clothes.
• Prepare an altar with Radha-Krishna idols or images adorned with flowers and colors.
• Swing the idols gently while chanting ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Rama’.
• Offer bhog of sweets, fruits, and sandalwood paste.
• End the puja with applying abir to the deities and distributing prasadam.

Rituals

• Idols of Radha-Krishna are placed on decorated swings called Dola and carried in processions.
• Devotees apply abir (colored powder) and sing bhajans, chanting Harinam Sankirtan.
• Offer milk-based sweets like kheer, rasgulla, and malpua to the deities.
• Elders are respectfully applied with color on their feet; blessings are sought afterward.
• The day concludes with community feasting and evening bhajan sessions.

Regional Highlights

• In West Bengal, Dol Jatra marks the end of the Bengali year and is celebrated at Mayapur and Shantiniketan with grandeur.
• In Odisha, idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are taken out in Dola Melana processions and placed on Dolmandap stages.
• In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Phakuwa or Phagwah with songs and traditional Bihu-style dances.
• Temples across the region are adorned with flowers, swings, and music celebrating the divine love of Radha and Krishna.

History

Dol Jatra is rooted in Vaishnavite traditions and traces its origin to the time of Lord Krishna. It represents the day when Krishna applied gulal on Radha, symbolizing divine love. The day also commemorates the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 15th-century Vaishnava saint regarded as an incarnation of Krishna who spread the message of devotion through kirtan.

Additional Information

• Dol Jatra coincides with Holi but emphasizes devotion and Krishna Leela over revelry.
• It symbolizes love, fertility, renewal, and spiritual joy aligning with the onset of spring.
• Major ISKCON temples around the world host Dol Jatra kirtans and Radha-Krishna Abhishekam ceremonies.