Lohri is a Punjabi folk festival celebrated in Northern India. The significance and legends about the Lohri festival are numerous. This folk festival is connected with the Duggar region and Punjab region. The day after Lohri is celebrated as Makar Sankranti.
Lohri is an official holiday in Punjab, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh. This festival is celebrated in Delhi and Haryana as well. In all of these areas, the festival is celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus.
Lohri is celebrated on 13 and 14 January annually in India, a day before the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti. This year, Lohri will be celebrated on Monday, 13 January 2025.
Why do we celebrate Lohri?
Lohri is a winter crop season celebration and is linked to the Punjab region. It marks the beginning of the harvest season and sunny days. Lohri marks the passing of the winter solstice and the end of winter as well. It is a festival of welcoming longer days and the sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere. Lohri is observed the night before Maghi.
Traditionally, this harvest festival is especially significant for families whose livelihoods depended on farming and agriculture. It holds great importance for farmers. This day marks the New Year for farmers, ending the season of winter crops.
However, over the time, it has also become a celebration of worshipping fire as it symbolises warmth and light. Following Lohri, the intense cold season begins to fade and the days grow longer as well.
Lohri is celebrated to express gratitude for the harvest season and to thank the Sun God for providing light as well as warmth to help all the crops grow. Farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour as they gather around bonfires to sing, dance and share their joy with others.
This harvest festival is celebrated by lighting bonfires around which people gather to offer prayers, eating a lot of festive food, dancing and collecting gifts. Lohri rituals are performed with special Lohri songs. On this day, people also offer sesame seeds, jaggery and popcorn to the God of fire and dance around bonfires to celebrate the harvest season. During this celebration, people dress up and come to perform bhangra.
Lohri 2025 timings:
As per Drik Panchang, Lohri will be celebrated on January 13 and the Lohri Sankranti will occur at 09:03 AM on January 14, 2025.
- Purnima Tithi till 03:56 AM on January 14, 2025
- Brahma Muhurta from 05:27 AM to 06:21 AM
- Abhijit Muhurta from 12:09 PM to 12:51 PM