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Lohri 2023: ✔History, Significance, Celebrations across India

Published Date: 09-Jan-2023

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 13th 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.

Lohri History and Significance

Lohri 2019

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 2019

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

Sargun Preet Kaur
Sargun has an appetite for challenges and creative hurdles that can help her grow as she conquers them one by one. With an innate desire to travel the world, she weaves through life by visiting her dream destinations. When not in her creative zone, Sargun loves to smash in badminton and binge-watch her favourite shows.
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