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Holi in Pushkar: one square by the lake
The day India drowns in color
Pushkar plays Holi in one packed square by the lake: drums at Varah Ghat chowk from first light, gulal in clouds and a crowd that mixes the town with visitors from across India and abroad. By the central holiday list the bonfire and the colours fall on 22–23 March 2027; Rajasthan’s own list can put them a day earlier. Pushkar is a holy town, so there is no meat, eggs or alcohol here, Holi included.
Pushkar plays Holi in one packed square by the lake: drums at Varah Ghat chowk from first light, gulal in clouds, and a crowd that mixes the town with visitors from across India and abroad.
Where to watch
Varah Ghat chowk: the colour morning, from the first drums at dawn into the early afternoon, shoulder to shoulder. Shirts get torn here (the local kapda-phaad custom), and the administration has put limits on it in recent years. Free.
Mela Ground (the fairground): the tourism department's folk evening on Holika Dahan night and the municipality's DJ Holi on the colour day. Free.
Free viewing
- Varah Ghat chowk and the main bazaar on the colour morning
- Mela Ground for the folk evening on Holika Dahan night and the DJ Holi on the colour day
How the two days run
The evening before the colours is Holika Dahan: bonfires are lit across town, and the tourism department has held a free evening of Rajasthani folk music and dance on the Mela Ground, the fairground (19:00–21:00 the last time).
The colour starts at dawn at Varah Ghat chowk, by Pushkar Lake, and goes on into the early afternoon, shoulder to shoulder. Shirts get torn here: this is the local kapda-phaad custom, and the administration has put limits on it in recent years. If you would rather keep your shirt, watch from the edge of the square. On the same day the municipality runs a DJ Holi on the Mela Ground. Both places are free.
The ghats are sacred: shoes come off there, and people who press flowers into your hands and then ask for a large “donation” are best politely refused.
Safety and etiquette
Varah Ghat chowk is small and the crowd is dense. These points follow the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advice for India; for the town in general see Pushkar safety.
- In the crowd — The FCDO notes that stampedes have occurred at events with large crowds and advises following the instructions of the local authorities. Go with company, agree a meeting point and know your way back to the room.
- For women travellers — The FCDO notes that female travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. In the square, staying with your own group and watching from the edge make it easier to step out.
- Bhang and drinks — Bhang, made from cannabis leaves, often appears at Holi. India’s narcotics law, the NDPS Act, leaves the leaves out of its definition of cannabis and states regulate bhang, while ganja and charas are banned; the FCDO notes that possessing even small amounts of illegal drugs can bring a minimum sentence of 6 months. Bhang’s strength is unpredictable, and the FCDO warns of spiked drinks and food: don’t accept food or drinks from strangers.
- Your no counts — “Bura na mano, Holi hai” is about play, not about ignoring boundaries: a polite “no, thank you” still counts.
- Colours and kit — Old clothes you can lose, coconut oil on skin and hair, herbal gulal rather than cheap chemical colour, mouth closed in the thick of it, phone in a zip-lock bag. Emergency number: 112.
Getting there, where to stay, when to book
Pushkar fills earlier than its size suggests: ten days before one recent Holi the town was already half full.
- Book about a month ahead
The lakeside guesthouses and the resorts on Ganahera Road go first. Trains into Ajmer carry the national Holi rush, so book them as soon as the 60-day window opens.
- Ajmer, then over the pass
Every railway route ends at Ajmer Junction, 15 km away, with direct trains from Jaipur and Delhi. RSRTC buses cross Nag Pahar every 15–30 minutes (about ₹25–35, 30–40 min); a taxi costs about ₹400–600. More in how to get to Pushkar.
- Stay on foot from the lake
On the colour morning nothing on wheels gets near Varah Ghat, and you will want to walk back and wash. Guesthouses by the ghats are closest; Ganahera Road, Hokra and Tilora are quieter but a drive out. Arrive the day before for the Holika Dahan evening.
FAQ
When is Holi in Pushkar?
By the central holiday list Holika Dahan and the colours fall on 22–23 March 2027; Rajasthan’s state list can put them a day earlier. The colour starts at dawn at Varah Ghat chowk.
Where is Holi celebrated in Pushkar?
At Varah Ghat chowk by the lake and in the main bazaar on the colour morning, and on the Mela Ground for the folk evening on Holika Dahan night and the municipality’s DJ Holi on the colour day. All free.
Can you drink alcohol at Holi in Pushkar?
No. Pushkar is a holy town with no meat, eggs or alcohol anywhere, and that holds at Holi too.
Where to stay in Pushkar during Holi?
Within walking distance of the lake and the main bazaar, because vehicles cannot reach Varah Ghat on the colour morning. Book about a month ahead.
What are the different types of Holi celebrations in India?
Beyond the colour day there are temple Holis with flowers, as in Jaipur, Braj’s stick-play Lathmar Holi, and the ash Holi at Manikarnika in Varanasi. An overview is in Holi.
Sources (2)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.