Protecting Your Phone During Holi: Waterproofing,
Cases, and What to Do If It Gets Wet
Between water balloons, pichkaris, and wet colour thrown from every direction, Holi is one of the few days a year almost every phone is genuinely at risk. The good news is a little preparation goes a long way, and if water does get in despite your best efforts, what you do in the first few minutes matters more than anything else.
September 2026 · 6 min read
The Simplest Option: Leave It Behind
If you genuinely do not need your phone during colour play, the safest option is not to carry it at all. Leave it at home or in a bag with someone who is not playing, and step out for an hour or two without it. For a lot of people this is not practical, since a phone is also how family finds each other during the day, which is where the options below come in.
Waterproofing Options, Ranked by How Much You Trust Them
A dedicated waterproof pouch with a sealed touchscreen window
The most reliable option if you want to actively use the phone during play, take photos, share location. Test the seal with a dry tissue inside before you trust it with water nearby.
Your phone's own IP rating, if it has one
Many recent phones carry an IP67 or IP68 rating, meaning genuine water resistance from the factory. Check your phone's specifications, but even a rated phone is safer with charging ports covered, since colour and dye stain and clog ports more than plain water.
A ziplock bag as a last resort
Not built for the purpose, but a good ziplock bag, air pressed out and sealed twice, buys you some protection if you have nothing else. The touchscreen will not respond reliably through it, so treat it purely as a carry option, not a way to keep using the phone.
Skip loose bags, pockets, and open bowls of colour nearby
A phone in an open pocket or shirt front is exposed the moment someone throws a balloon your way. If you are carrying it loose, keep it in a covered bag well away from where colour and water are flying.
If Water or Colour Gets Into the Phone
Switch it off immediately rather than checking if it still works, since powering it on with water inside is what causes the real damage. Wipe the outside dry, including the ports and speaker grilles, and leave it in a dry, room-temperature spot for at least 24 hours. Skip the rice myth, it does little and rice dust can get into ports. If colour, not just water, made it in, expect ports and speakers to need a gentle clean with a dry, soft brush once fully dry, since dye residue can cause issues even after the water itself evaporates.
Before You Play, Make Sure Family Can Still Reach You
If your phone is going to be sealed away, unreachable, or powered off for safety during Holi, it is worth letting family know beforehand rather than them wondering why you have gone quiet or why your location has stopped updating. Agree on a rough time you will next check your phone, so a gap in contact reads as expected, not worrying.