Holi Festivals Planned for Pleasanton Area
Several Holi celebrations and craft events are scheduled to take place in and around Pleasanton. Nearby San Ramon will host a Holi festival, while various craft-focused events are planned within Pleasanton itself.
- The San Ramon celebration at City Center Bishop Ranch is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with a $10 admission fee. - Known as the "Festival of Colours, Love and Spring," Holi is an ancient Hindu festival that marks the end of winter and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. - The festival's timing is based on the Hindu luni-solar calendar, beginning on the last full moon day of the month of Phalguna. In 2026, the main dates for the festival fall on March 3rd and 4th. - A key tradition is the lighting of a bonfire on the night before Holi, called Holika Dahan. This bonfire commemorates the victory of good over evil from the legend of the demon king Hiranyakashipu and his devout son Prahlad. - The playful throwing of colored powders (gulal) and water is linked to the divine love story of the deities Radha and Krishna. - The festival is a two-day event, starting with the Holika Dahan bonfire and followed by Rangwali Holi, the day for celebrating with colors, music, and dance. - Traditional festival foods include sweet dumplings known as gujiya and a spiced milk drink called thandai, which are shared among family and friends.
