Lohri is a folk festival celebrated in Northern India which marks the harvest of rabi crops and the end of the winter season. Dominant among the Hindu and Sikh communities, people light a holy bonfire to signify the passing of the winter solstice. Lohri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Pausha on the fixed date of the 14th of January, every year, according to the Georgian Calendar. The Lohri date 2024 is the 14th of January, Saturday. This day officially marks the northward journey of the sun, putting an end to the long winter nights and welcoming the longer days of summer. Lohri festival is an optional holiday, people may choose to take a holiday but it’s not mandatory.
Lohri 2024 Date and Time
Lohri 2024 will be celebrated on 14th January. The timings for the religious ceremony are as follows:
- Tritiya tithi up to 07:59 AM, January 14
- Chaturthi tithi up to 04:59 AM, January 15
- Brahma Muhurta: 05:27 AM to 06:21 AM
- Abhijit Muhurta: 12:09 PM to 12:51 PM
Lohri Festival History and Significance
Lohri is celebrated by igniting a bonfire
Lohri significance lies in the fact that it is a celebration of Surya, the Sun God, thanking him for gracing devotees by his presence. The holy bonfire lit during Lohri Puja signifies the God of Fire, Agni. Devotees take circles around the fire and offer food and prayers to God, requesting a prosperous year. Lohri meaning is to celebrate the harvest of rabi crops and the end of the winter season.
Story of Lohri
Dulla Bhatti was born in a Punjabi family near Faisalabad now in Pakistan. He belonged to the Rajput clan of Bhattis. He refused to accept the orders of Mughal King Akbar and refused to pay any tax. He robbed the rich and distributed it among the poor. He is also known as Robin Hood of Punjab. He rescued many Hindu Punjabi girls who were being taken forcefully to be sold in the slave market. After his public execution in Lahore; in memory of their saviour, the girls sang songs and danced around the bonfire. This became a tradition of Punjab from that day and was celebrated gracefully all over Punjab annually as Lohri. So every Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti. The famous song of Lohri festival is
“Sunder mundriye ho! Tera kaun vicharaa ho!
Dullah Bhatti walla ho! Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser shakkar payee ho! Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saalu paata ho! Salu kaun samete!
Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti! Zamindaar sudhaye!
Bade bhole aaye! Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahee far ke lai gaya! Sipahee ne mari itt!
Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jodi! Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pitt!”
Lohri 2024 Celebrations Across India
Lohri Celebrations | popcorn, till (sesame) ladoos, peanuts, puffed rice, gur or jaggery
Lohri is celebrated with great pomp in the Northern region of the country. Some of the famous celebrations are:
Bonfires and Festive Foods
Holy fire is lit in an open space and the whole community gathers around it. As a sign of reverence to the Fire God, people circumambulate the bonfire, which is accompanied by offering food and sweets made from jaggery & sesame seeds, singing songs, dancing and making merry. Lohri is not only celebrated as a harvest festival but is also a means of getting together with family and friends, sharing stories and much more. People wish each other by saying Happy Lohri. The day concludes with a giant feast where all the gathered people are served Lohri festival food made from Rabi crops – Makki ki roti and Sarson ka Saag.
Chajja dance and Hiran dance
Lohri have various additional traditions associated with it like Chajja dancing and Hiran dancing. People prepare Chajja- a replica of a peacock. Children carry this Chajja and then go from one house to the other celebrating Lohri. In some areas, a special Hiran dance is also performed. Children wear garlands made of dry fruits and groundnuts.
Practices
The Lohri or bonfire is lit at sunset in the main square of the colony. People toss jaggery, sesame seeds and sweets on the bonfire, sing and dance till the fire dies out. Some people perform prayers to show respect for the natural element of fire and wish each other Happy Lohri.
While Lohri is a North Indian festival, it is celebrated in other parts of the country with different names – Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magha Bihu in Assam, Tai Pongal in Kerala, Uttarayan in Gujarat, and Makar Sankranti in other parts of India.
Best Places to Observe Lohri 2024
- Amritsar: There’s no better place to celebrate Lohri than Amristar. Visit the Golden Temple, and feast on a delicious meal prepared by the community kitchens. Take a stroll in the markets and get the fragrance of jaggery and fresh sweets. People roam around the streets in their festive attire and exchanging Lohri wishes and gifts with their loved ones.
- Jalandhar: One of the ancient cities in Punjab, Jalandhar is a fast-growing city. The warm-hearted locals here have preserved the rituals of Lohri over generations and celebrate it with pure joy. People fly kites, enjoy delicious food, wish each other Happy Lohri, and dance their hearts out during the Lohri celebrations in Jalandhar.
- Ludhiana: If you love dancing, then you must be part of the Lohri celebrations in Ludhiana. In Ludhiana, dance professional groups perform Bhangra and Gidda on the streets in colourful traditional attire. People offer prayers around the bonfire, exchange Lohri greetings, and sing Happy Lohri songs.
- Delhi: Delhi has a strong Punjabi influence, so the city is a fantastic place to immerse in the fun and spirituality of the festival. In Delhi, housing societies gather to organise dance competitions and shows. People exchange Happy Lohri wishes and a variety of delicacies like Gur Ki Gajak, Makki Di Roti, Sarson Ka Saag, and Atta Laddoos.
Lohri 2024 wishes
Here are some popular Lohri wishes:
- May this Lohri bring the best opportunities your way, to explore every joy of life, turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into huge achievements. Happy Lohri 2024!
- Hope this Lohri gives you a chance to get closer to your loved ones and become a reason for a smile on their face. May God shower you with blessings and abundance in the year ahead.
- May the tasty makke ki roti, sarson ka saag, and sweet gud and til bring lots of happiness and prosperity to your life this festive season. Happy Lohri 2024!
- May this festival give you the energy and enthusiasm to achieve new endeavours in life. Happy Lohri 2024!
- Here’s wishing you and your family a very happy Lohri!
- May this Lohri be as delightful and beautiful as you are! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Lohri 2024!
- Hope you are blessed with this Lohri and forever with good health, fortune, and bounties of joy. Have a joyous 2024 Lohri!
- May this Lohri fire burn all the moments of sadness and enlighten your world with the warmth of joy, happiness and love. Happy Lohri!
Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type
| Festivals in India | Day | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Mon | 01-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Lohri | Sat | 13-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Makar Sankranti | Sun | 14-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Pongal | Mon | 15-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Wed | 17-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Republic Day | Fri | 26-Jan | Gazetted Holiday |
| Losar | Sat | 10-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Basant Panchmi | Wed | 14-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Sat | 24-Feb | Gazetted Holiday |
| Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Wed | 6-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Mahashivratri | Fri | 8-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Holi | Mon | 25-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Good Friday | Fri | 29-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Easter Day | Sun | 31-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Gudi Padwa | Tue | 9-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Wed | 10-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Vaisakhi (Vishu) | Sat | 13-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Rama Navami | Wed | 17-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Sun | 21-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Rabindra Jayanti | Wed | 8-May | Restricted Holiday |
| Buddha Purnima (Vesak) | Thu | 23-May | Gazetted Holiday |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Mon | 17-Jun | Restricted Holiday |
| Rath Yatra | Sun | 7-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Muharram (Ashura) | Wed | 17-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Independence Day | Thu | 15-Aug | Gazetted Holiday |
| Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) | Thu | 15-Aug | Public Holiday |
| Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) | Mon | 19-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Janmashtami | Mon | 26-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Sat | 7-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Onam | Sun | 15-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad | Mon | 16-Sep | Gazetted Holiday |
| Gandhi Jayanti | Wed | 02-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dussehra | Sat | 12-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Valmiki Jayanti | Thu | 17-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Karva Chauth | Sun | 20-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dhanteras | Tue | 29-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Diwali | Thu | 31-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Kali Puja | Thu | 31-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Lakshmi Puja | Thu | 31-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Halloween Day | Thu | 31-Oct | No Holiday |
| Karnataka Rajyotsava | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Kerala Piravi | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Govardhan Puja | Sat | 2-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Bhai Dooj | Sun | 3-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Chhath Puja | Thu | 7-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Fri | 15-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Christmas | Wed | 25-Dec | Public Holiday |
FAQs
Q. Are Happy Lohri and Makar Sankranti the same?
A. The same festival is celebrated all over India but it has different names. Lohri in the North, Pongal in the South, Makar Sankranti in Western parts, Gujarat calls it Uttarayan. The only difference is Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the next day of Happy Lohri.
Q. What is the difference between Lohri and Baisakhi?
A. Baisakhi is celebrated as the beginning of the harvest season in April and Happy Lohri marks the end of the winter season. Lohri 2023 date was 13 January and Makar Sankranti was celebrated on 14th January.
Q. What do Punjabis eat on Happy Lohri?
A. Some of the famous delicacies are sarson ka saag, makki ki roti, rewri, gajak, gajrela, til-gur laddoos, peanuts, and gur.
Q. What is Lohri Festival?
A. Lohri in India is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest of rabi crops like mustard and sesame.
Q. When is Lohri 2024?
A. Lohri 2024 will be celebrated on 14th January 2024.
Q. When is Lohri 2024 Punjab?
A. Lohri 2024 date in Punjab is 14th January.
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