Lohri, the popular winter festival of Northern India, is a significant festival for Hindus, especially for the Sikh community. This vibrant festival celebrates the arrival of longer days and the rabi crop’s harvest. To witness India’s unique and alluring cultural scene, Lohri 2025 is bringing a great opportunity. To learn more about this winter harvest festival, keep reading this blog.
What is Lohri?
Lohri is a famous Hindu festival celebrated with great pomp and show by the inhabitants of Punjab and Haryana, which symbolizes the end of the winter. Also, it is celebrated by people of Sikh communities residing in many locations across the globe. The festival is observed as a national holiday in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu. This Punjabi folk festival is locally known as Lal Loi or Lohadi and is considered the Financial New Year by the Punjabi farmers.
What is the Lohri 2025 Date and Time?
The upcoming harvest festival will be celebrated a day before the auspicious celebration of Makar Sankranti. January 13 and 09:03 AM will be the Lohri 2025 date and time, which is determined by the Hindu solar calendar and astrological calculations. Every 70 years, the variation in the date of Lohri Sankranti is observed.
Lohri Festival is Celebrated in Which State?
The winter festival of Northern India, Lohri, can be observed best in the three neighboring states of India’s north region, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. In these states, this festival is celebrated with great delight by Sikh and Hindu communities. Lohri is also celebrated in Delhi and Haryana; however, the festival day is not marked as a gazetted holiday in these two states. In other regions of the country, this festival is popular with different names, including Pongal in South India, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh, Bhugali Bihu in Assam, and Uttarayan in Gujarat.
Why is Lohri Celebrated?
There are many legends associated with the origin of the Lohri celebration. Among those, the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a 16th-century dacoit, is widely known. According to this legend, Dulla Bhatti was a dacoit with a Robinhood-like character who used to rob money from the Mughals during Akbar’s empire to help the poor.
Also, he is worshiped as a hero because he saved many Punjabi girls during that time by rescuing them from being sold into slavery in the Middle East. Some other legends associated with this festival tell that Lohri was the sister of the demon Holika, who was burned to death due to her vanity in her powers. Another legend says that the festival is associated with Saint Kabir’s wife, Loi.
Rituals and Celebrations of Lohri:
A variety of rituals and celebrations can be witnessed with Lohri 2025:
1. Lighting a Bonfire: The celebrations of this significant winter harvest festival are marked by lighting a bonfire. After the harvesting of rabi crops, people lit a huge bonfire in the yard of their homes. People chant prayers and throw sesame seeds, jaggeries, and rewaries into the fire while circling it. Offering to the bonfire is symbolized as an offering to Lord Agni, which is thought to protect against bad energies and bring wealth. By the end of this ritual, the main head of the family distributes prasad to all the attendees as blessings for good luck from Lord Agni.
2. Singing and Dancing: The Lohri celebrations are well-known for the Punjabi folk dance and dhol beats. People perform folk dances, including bhangra and giddha, and sing traditional songs around the bonfire. Many Lohri songs express people’s gratitude to Dulla Bhatti for his bravery. Many days before the main festival, children sing these songs around homes in their neighborhood, to seek blessings, money, and snacks from adults.
3. Eating Traditional Food: The celebration of the harvest festival features Lohri Ki Thaali, the festival feast, that includes sarson da saag, til ke ladoo, makki di roti, makhane ki kheer, rewari, gajak, til ki barfi, gur ki roti, pinni, and others. Also, people decorate their homes with flowers and traditional rangoli designs.
4. Wearing Traditional Attire: The popular festival of Northern India, also presents an opportunity to witness the elegant charm of Punjab’s traditional attire. People dress in their bright traditional clothes, including kurtas, salwar kameez adorned with phulkari dupattas, and Patiala pants.
5. Retelling Stories: During this festival, the elderly people retell the stories of the bravery of their ancestors to the younger generation. This auspicious festival is a great time to strengthen the bonds and spend time with family and friends.
6. Kite Flying: Another essential celebration of this festivity is kite flying, in which people fly kites of various sizes and colors to bring good luck and prosperity to their lives. The clear skies of the starting month of the year offer a captivating appeal with diversely shaped kites in different hues.
Lohri 2025 Celebrations with Nobel House Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Lohri is a cherished festivity of Northern India that fosters the strengthening of bonds among family members, relatives, and friends. The first Lohri for brides and babies is considered extra special, as it marks fertility and good luck. For a food lover, Lohri 2025 celebrations can be a great chance to enjoy the delectable traditional foods of the Sikh and Hindu communities of Northern India.
Witness the greatest celebration of the harvest festival that fosters a sense of community and togetherness with Noble House Tours Pvt. Ltd. With the affordable and accurately designed packages by the leading tour operator of India, you can enjoy Lohri celebrations at the best locations in the country. Connect us and get ready for an unforgettable journey to scenic destinations in Northern India renowned for Lohri celebrations.
