The festival of Lohri is a vibrant winter festival celebrated mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and parts of North India. It marks the beginning of longer days and end of the winter solstice as the Sun starts its northward journey in solar calendar. Lohri is deeply connected to agriculture, harvest traditions, and community bonding, making it one of the most culturally rich festivals of India. Lohri is celebrated in the month of Paush, a day before Makar Sankranti. This year also the Lohri festival is being celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti on January 13.
Lohri is celebrated as harvest of rabbi crop in North India. The festival is organised to celebrate the ripening of winter crops as well as the start of a new harvesting season.
The word Lohri has been originated from the word ‘loh’ which means ‘Tawa’, a kitchen utensil that is used for making rotis and chapattis.
Families, neighbors and friends come together on the night of Lohri. A ‘Lohri Thaal’ is decorated by people and it is filled with puffed rice, popcorns, rewadi, gajak, and other delicacies that are usually prepared in sesame seeds.
Lohri festival celebration bring families and communities together symbolising warmth, gratitude, and renewal as on this day, people light bon fires outside homes or at public places and perform Parikrama around the fire while offering sesame seeds, Jaggery, gajak, rewadi, and peanuts. Along with harvesting the crops, people also offer the bhog they made from the crops offered to the fire. Sugarcanes are also thrown into the bonfire as an offering.
The bonfire at the heart of Lohri symbolises warmth, light, and the victory of light over darkness. It represents energy and spiritual renewal, as people gather in joyful celebration.
People sing folk songs and perform several dance forms like Bhangra, Gidda and Chajja. People of Punjab enjoy the festival with great enthusiasm and grandeur. The popular Punjab’s delicacy “Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag” is relished by People along with moongfali, tilkut, puffed rice, and gajak. People also sing the famous Lohri folk song “Sundar Mundariye Ho, Tera Kaun Vichara ho, Dulha Bhatti Wala Ho.
Children are also involved in the festival. As per tradition children go door to door asking for ‘Lohri Loot’ and receive money along with til (sesame seeds), Jaggery, peanuts, gajjak, or rewari. The rooms of the houses are sprinkled with water as a ritual.
The festival of joy and fertility, Lohri, is also an auspicious festival for newlyweds and newborns. While newlyweds wear jewellery, newborns hold a comb as part of a ritual.
The legend of Dulla Bhatti, who had lived in Punjab during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, is the most well-known folklore connected to Lohri. He used to plunder the wealthy and aid the poor and those in need. Historiographers claim that he once saved a child from kidnappers and raised her as his own daughter. He even carried out the ceremonies without a priest on the day of her wedding. People began to sing the traditional song ‘Sundar Mundariye’ at Lohri every year because they loved and admired him.
The significance of Lohri celebration is also to pay tribute and homage to the brave warrior Dulha Bhatti who stood like a rock against the tyrant Mughal emperors.
Lohri is more than a festival-it is a celebration of culture, harvest, community, and gratitude. The bonfire, music, food, and rituals reflect ancient traditions and the human connection with nature and seasons. By understanding Lohri’s meaning and customs, one can appreciate its deep cultural roots and the joy it brings to families and communities across India.
