Lohri: The Festival of Winter Harvest
A lively guide to the Punjabi festival marking winter's end, the harvest, and the fire's strength.
Marking the End of the Coldest Month
Date and Meaning
**Lohri**, celebrated every year on **January 13th**, marks the end of winter and the passing of the **Winter Solstice**. It signals the harvest of Rabi crops and the beginning of a new financial year for farmers in Punjab and North India. The highlight is the **bonfire**, symbolizing the sun's return, warmth, and the clearing of winter's remnants for spring. Lohri holds special importance for newborns and new brides, celebrated with family gatherings, gifts, and joyful traditions.
The Power of the Bonfire
Joyful Traditional Dancing
The Ritual of the Fire and Offerings
Praying for Prosperity
The bonfire is the essence of Lohri. After dusk, a fire is kindled in an open space. People gather around, tossing offerings like **rewari** (sesame and jaggery), **gajak** (sugar and sesame), **popcorn**, and **groundnuts** into the flames. This act symbolizes a prayer for prosperity, abundance, and fertile lands. As the fire blazes, people perform **parikrama** (circling the fire), expressing gratitude to the sun god and seeking blessings for a bountiful harvest. The sacred ashes are later taken home as a token of blessing.
Core Traditions: Dance, Music, and Folklore
Lohri is a lively and vibrant festival enjoyed with immense joy by families and communities.
1. Bhangra and Gidda
Men showcase the lively **Bhangra**, while women dance the elegant **Gidda** by the bonfire, honoring the harvest and seasonal change.
2. Lohri Songs
Children go door-to-door singing traditional folk songs, most famously '**Sunder Mundriye**,' and are rewarded with treats, jaggery, and money.
3. Dulla Bhatti Story
The songs often tell the story of **Dulla Bhatti**, a Punjabi hero who saved poor girls from slavery and arranged their marriages, symbolizing justice and care.
4. Festive Feasting
The evening ends with a lavish feast highlighting classic winter delicacies such as **Sarson da Saag** (spiced mustard greens) and **Makki di Roti** (cornbread).
Visualizing Traditional Lohri Treats
This pie chart symbolically shows the share of key ingredients and treats exchanged during Lohri, celebrating the harvest.
20 Lohri Wishes & Greetings
Bright and heartfelt wishes to spread the cheer of the fire and the harvest time.