Holi tambola is the clean, dry game for a festival that is all about colors. Print up to 600 unique Holi tambola tickets with a splash of color on every one, then call the numbers and give prizes such as the Gulal Line, the Gujiya Line and the Rang Barse Full House. The pack has a caller sheet, a prize list and a rules page, and you can play Holi tambola live on phones, with no printer and no mess.
Holi tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show a Holi tambola set: a page of tickets titled “Holi Hai! Gupta Family”, the 1 to 90 caller sheet, the prize list with the Holi prize names and the one-page rules. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the title, the date, the paper size and the number of tickets.
What is in the Holi tambola pack
Everything below is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. Print in color for a festive look, or in black and white to save ink and keep the tickets easy to read.
| Page | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | Real strips of six: each strip uses every number from 1 to 90 exactly once | Up to 600 tickets, purple with a splash of colored dots and green trim, with your title and the host name on every ticket |
| Caller sheet | A 1 to 90 grid to cross off as you call | Keep it to check every winning claim |
| Prize list | The six Holi prizes, from Pichkari Five to Rang Barse Full House | Space to write each prize and the winning ticket number |
| Rules page | A one-page script to read out before the first number | Covers claims and what happens after a wrong one |
Holi tambola prizes and what they mean
The Holi theme names each prize after something at the festival, so reading the list out loud sets the mood. Here is what each prize means and how to win it:
| Prize | How to win | Holi link |
|---|---|---|
| Pichkari Five | Early Five: the first five numbers marked on a ticket | A pichkari is a water gun, and the first splash starts the fun |
| Gulal Line | Top Line: all five numbers on the top row | Gulal is the colored powder that fills the air at Holi |
| Thandai Line | Middle Line: all five numbers on the middle row | Thandai is the cool, spiced milk drink served at Holi |
| Gujiya Line | Bottom Line: all five numbers on the bottom row | Gujiya is the sweet fried dumpling that every Holi table needs |
| Four Colors | Corners: the first and last number of the top and bottom rows | One color in each corner of the ticket |
| Rang Barse Full House | Full House: all fifteen numbers marked | Rang barse means “colors rain down”, the name of a famous Holi song |
Number calls for your Holi tambola
Holi has its own set of numbers, from the days before the bonfire to the colors in the powder. Use them as short talking points, and let the older guests add their own memories:
| Number | Call it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holika Dahan | One bonfire on the night before Holi, recalling the story of Prahlad and Holika |
| 2 | Two days of Holi | Holika Dahan on the first evening and the color play, called Rangwali Holi, the next day |
| 4 | Four classic gulal colors | Red, yellow, green and blue are the colors people think of first |
| 5 | Rang Panchami | In parts of western India, color play continues on the fifth day after Holi |
| 8 | Holashtak | The eight days before Holika Dahan, a quiet time in many homes |
| 40 | Vasant Panchami | Holi preparations traditionally begin forty days earlier, on Vasant Panchami |
| 11 | Shubh gyarah | A lucky number for gifts, such as a Holi envelope |
| 90 | Top of the shop | The last number on the board, and the last splash |
How long does a Holi tambola game last?
A Holi tambola should fit between the color play and the lunch, so it helps to know how long the game will run. The table shows when each prize is usually won and how many minutes the whole game takes at the default speed of 10 seconds a call.
| Tickets | Typical crowd | Early Five | First full line | Full House | Time at 10 s a call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 tickets | a family Holi at home | call 14 (12 to 17) | call 43 (36 to 49) | call 76 (71 to 78) | 13 min |
| 30 tickets | a society or building Holi | call 12 (10 to 14) | call 36 (31 to 41) | call 72 (69 to 75) | 12 min |
| 60 tickets | a school or club Holi | call 11 (9 to 12) | call 31 (26 to 36) | call 69 (66 to 72) | 12 min |
| 120 tickets | a big community Holi mela | call 10 (9 to 11) | call 28 (24 to 31) | call 66 (63 to 69) | 11 min |
The numbers come from real simulations of this generator: 300 games for each ticket count, with the typical call number and the middle half of results in brackets. More tickets mean the first prizes arrive sooner, but with 12 to 120 tickets the Full House still comes around call 66 to 76, because someone must complete all fifteen numbers. If the guests are tired and sticky after the color play, set 6 seconds a call and play only for the Gujiya Line and the Rang Barse Full House.
Holi party games for before and after the colors
Holi party games are easiest to plan around the mess. Before the color play, a seated game such as tambola calms the children and gives the adults time to arrive. After the color play, when everyone is washed and hungry, tambola again, with lunch on the table, is a good way to keep the party going. It needs only a pen, so it is a good game for a clean spot of the house.
Holi housie: the same game with a Holi name
Holi housie is the name many families use for tambola at a Holi party. The tickets, the numbers and the rules are the same as in any housie game, and the Holi theme adds the prize names and the festive colors. If your guests grew up playing housie at school or at the club, they will pick it up in a minute.
Holi kitty party games for the ladies’ circle
For a Holi kitty party, a dry game of tambola fits a morning of gujiya, thandai and old Hindi songs. Print the tickets in color, set the prizes in a bowl of dry gulal and call the numbers between songs. A few guests will want to play for a long time, so keep a second round ready with a different title. If you want more ideas, try kitty party tambola.
Holi tambola tickets for schools and societies
The Holi tambola tickets work well for a school or a housing society, where 60 to 120 people may play. Print the tickets, give one to each family and let the kids call the numbers on a microphone.
How to run a Holi tambola in six steps
- A week before: decide the six prizes and print the tickets with the name of the family or the society.
- On the day: keep the tickets and pens in a dry place, away from the color play.
- Before the first number: read the prize list and tell guests how the Holi names work.
- During the game: call a number every 10 seconds and read the Holi call where there is one.
- After the game: check each win against the caller sheet and hand out the prizes.
- Wrap up: keep the tickets as a souvenir, and play the live game later for anyone who missed it.
Prize ideas for a Holi tambola
- A packet of herbal gulal for the Pichkari Five
- A pack of sweets, such as gujiya, for the Gujiya Line
- A thandai mix or a set of glasses for the Thandai Line
- A small water gun or a sun hat for the Four Colors
- A bigger hamper, with a hand towel and a body lotion, for the Rang Barse Full House
Type any of these into the “Extra fun prizes” box and they print on the prize list:
- Holika Dahan: the first guest to mark the number 1
- Rang Panchami: the first to mark the number 5
- Red Special: the first to mark three numbers that end in 0
- Youngest Player: a bonus prize for the youngest guest who marks a number correctly
Host tips for a smooth game
- Keep the tickets away from water and colors by placing them in a plastic sleeve or a clear folder.
- Use herbal, skin-safe colors if the children are playing with gulal around the tickets.
- Print a few extra tickets in black and white for guests with white clothes.
- Let a child act as the caller, which makes the game feel like part of the festival.
Wikipedia’s Holi article describes the history, the legends and the way the festival is celebrated in different regions.
Play Holi tambola live on phones
Press Create game in the live game below, share the link and every guest opens a different e-ticket on their phone. Numbers are called automatically at the speed you choose, read aloud in English or Hindi if you like, and you can check any winning claim by ticket number. No app and no sign-up. Because the live game needs only a phone, it is the cleanest way to play tambola on Holi.
Holi tambola: frequently asked questions
What are good Holi party games for adults?
Tambola, musical chairs and dumb charades are easy to play in festive clothes. Tambola is especially good because it is seated, dry and needs no setup.
Is Holi tambola the same as Holi housie?
Yes. Housie and tambola are two names for the same game. Holi housie uses the Holi prize names and the festive colors.
Can I play Holi tambola online?
Yes. Use the live game on this page, share the link on WhatsApp and every guest gets an e-ticket on their phone, so cousins in other cities can play along.
How many tickets can I print?
From 1 to 600 in one go, with 3, 6, 8 or 12 tickets per page. Press New tickets for a completely different set, and choose Letter or A4 paper, in color or black and white.
Are the holi tambola tickets free?
Yes. The tickets, caller sheet, prize list, rules page and live game are all free for home, club and classroom use, with no sign-up.