Harvest · Agni (the sacred fire), Surya
Lohri
A winter bonfire evening of songs, sweets and thanks for the harvest, kept in Punjab.
Also known as: Lal Loi, Lohadi
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the evening before Makar Sankranti, which means usually the night of 13 January, or 14 January when Sankranti is observed on the 15th. The bonfire is lit after sunset, following the solar date.
About Lohri
Lohri is the winter bonfire festival of Punjab and nearby areas, celebrated the night before Makar Sankranti. Families and neighbours gather around a fire in the courtyard or street, circle it, and throw in sesame, jaggery, peanuts, puffed rice and popcorn as offerings.
The evening is full of folk songs, bhangra and gidda, and the shared eating of rewri, gajak, peanuts, popcorn and sarson da saag with makki di roti in some homes. It marks the end of the coldest days and the nearing of the sowing and harvest season.
Significance
Lohri thanks the Sun and the fire for the warmth that carries farmers through the harshest cold, and it welcomes the sowing of the next crop. The offerings thrown into the flames are traditionally believed to carry the family's gratitude and wishes upward.
It is also a deeply social festival. Many families keep the first Lohri of a newborn or a newly married couple with special celebration, and neighbours who might otherwise stay indoors come out to sing, dance and share food.
Evening around the fire
- 1In the afternoon, children go from door to door singing Lohri songs and collecting wood, sweets or small gifts.
- 2Build a bonfire of wood and dried cow-dung cakes in the courtyard or the street after sunset.
- 3Light it with a prayer and offer sesame, jaggery, peanuts, puffed rice and popcorn into the fire.
- 4Walk around the fire in a circle, usually three or seven times, while praying for happiness and a good harvest.
- 5Sing the folk songs of the season, including the song of Dulla Bhatti, and dance bhangra and gidda around the fire.
- 6Share rewri, gajak, peanuts and popcorn as prasad, and enjoy a meal of sarson da saag and makki di roti where it is made.
- 7Give gifts and sweets to the newborn, the newly married couple, and the daughters of the house.
The story
The most beloved legend, passed down in folk song and oral tradition, is of Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi folk hero of Emperor Akbar's time. He is remembered for rescuing girls who were being taken away and arranging their marriages as a father would, giving them dowries himself. The Lohri song "Sundar mundriye" praises him.
Other explanations link Lohri with the winter solstice and the worship of the Sun and fire, or with the folk goddess Lohri. Different regions tell their own stories, and the festival rests more on shared song and custom than on a single scriptural tale.
What to do
- ✓Build the bonfire in a safe, open and clear place.
- ✓Offer sesame, jaggery and popcorn to the fire with gratitude.
- ✓Join in the songs and dances with neighbours.
- ✓Celebrate the first Lohri of babies and newlyweds with blessings.
- ✓Share sweets and food with children and the needy.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not leave the fire unattended or let children stand too close.
- ✕Do not burn plastic, rubber or other harmful waste.
- ✕Avoid wearing loose synthetic clothes near the flames.
- ✕Do not litter the street with leftover food and packaging.
- ✕Avoid loud music late into the night in quiet neighbourhoods.
Around the country
- Punjab: the heart of Lohri, with village bonfires, bhangra and gidda, and special celebrations for the first Lohri of a child.
- Haryana and Himachal Pradesh: kept in many places with similar bonfires and songs, and followed by Maghi (Makar Sankranti) the next day.
- Delhi and the Punjabi diaspora: held in colonies, gurdwaras and community halls, with Lohri parties abroad.
- Jammu: celebrated with bonfires and songs, and in some places called Lohadi; the next day is Maghi.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lohri celebrated on a fixed date?
It follows the solar calendar and comes the night before Makar Sankranti, so it is usually on 13 January, and falls on 14 January in years when Makar Sankranti is observed on the 15th.
What is the first Lohri?
It is the first Lohri after a baby is born or a couple is married. Families hold a bigger celebration with gifts, blessings and a larger bonfire.
Who was Dulla Bhatti?
He was a Punjabi folk hero in the time of Akbar, remembered in Lohri songs for protecting poor girls and arranging their marriages. Accounts of his life are mainly oral tradition.