Lohri 2023: History, Significance, Celebrations across India

Lohri is a folk festival celebrated in Northern India which marks the beginning of the harvest season. Dominant among the Hindu and the 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 13^th of January, every year, according to Georgian Calendar. 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.

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Lohri History and Significance

Lohri is celebrated by igniting a bonfire

Lohri 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 for a prosperous year.

Lohri 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. 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 celebrated only as a harvest festival but is also a means of get together with family and friends, sharing stories and much more. The day concludes with a giant feast where all the gathered people are served food made from Rabi crops – Makki ki roti and Sarson ka Saag.

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 and Tai Pongal in Kerala.

Best Places to Observe Lohri

Amritsar
Jalandhar
Ludhiana
Chandigarh
Delhi

Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type

Festivals in India	Day	Date	Holiday Type
New Year	Sunday	1 January	Public
Lohri	Saturday	14 January	Restricted
Makar Sankranti	Saturday	14 January	Restricted
Pongal	Sunday	15 January	Restricted
Basant Panchmi	Thursday	26 January	Restricted
Republic Day	Thursday	26 January	Public
Guru Ravidass Jayanti	Sunday	5 February	Restricted
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti	Wednesday	15 February	Restricted
Mahashivratri	Saturday	18 February	Restricted
Losar	Tuesday	21 February	Restricted
Holi	Wednesday	8 March	Public
Ram Navami	Thursday	30 March	Restricted
Mahavir Jayanti	Tuesday	4 April	Restricted
Good Friday	Friday	7 April	Public
Easter	Sunday	9 April	Restricted
Vaisakhi	Friday	14 April	Restricted
Eid Ul Fitr	Saturday	22 April	Public
Buddha Purnima	Friday	5 May	Public
Rabindra Jayanti	Tuesday	9 May	Restricted
Rath Yatra	Tuesday	20 June	Restricted
Eid Al Adha	Thursday	29 June	Restricted
Muharram	Saturday	29 July	Public
Independence Day	Tuesday	15 August	Public
Parsi New Year Navroz	Wednesday	16 August	Restricted
Onam	Tuesday	29 August	Restricted
Raksha Bandhan	Wednesday	30 August	Restricted
Janmashtami	Thursday	7 September	Restricted
Ganesh Chaturthi	Tuesday	19 September	Restricted
Id E Milad	Thursday	28 September	Public
Gandhi Jayanti	Monday	2 October	Public
Shardiya Navratri	Sunday	15 October	No Holiday
Durga Puja	Friday	20 October	No Holiday
Dussehra	Tuesday	24 October	Public
Valmiki Jayanti	Saturday	28 October	Restricted
Halloween Day	Tuesday	31 October	No Holiday
Karva Chauth	Tuesday	1 November	Restricted
Karnataka Rajyotsava	Tuesday	1 November	Restricted
Kerala Piravi	Tuesday	1 November	Restricted
Ahoi Ashtami	Sunday	5 November	No Holiday
Dhanteras	Saturday	11 November	No Holiday
Diwali	Sunday	12 November	Public
Kali Puja	Sunday	12 November	No Holiday
Lakshmi Puja	Sunday	12 November	No Holiday
Govardhan Puja	Monday	13 November	Public
Bhai Dooj	Tuesday	14 November	Restricted
Chhath Puja	Sunday	19 November	Restricted
Guru Nanak Jayanti	Monday	27 November	Public
Kartik Purnima	Monday	27 November	No Holiday
Christmas	Monday	25 December	Public