Lohri is a popular Punjabi harvest festival celebrated primarily in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. It marks the end of the winter season and the arrival of longer, warmer days. Celebrated on January 13th or 14th each year, Lohri coincides with Makar Sankranti and signifies the beginning of the harvest season. The festival is characterized by bonfires, traditional dances (especially Bhangra and Gidda), and the sharing of festive foods.

The festival holds special significance for Punjabi farmers as it celebrates the harvest of winter crops, particularly sugarcane. Lohri is also associated with the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi folk hero who rescued Punjabi girls from being sold into slavery and arranged their marriages. Songs praising Dulla Bhatti are sung around the bonfire, making the celebration both festive and meaningful.

Lohri is a community celebration that brings families and neighbors together. People gather around large bonfires, throw items like sesame seeds, jaggery, and popcorn into the fire as offerings, and perform traditional dances. The festival emphasizes gratitude for the harvest, warmth during winter, and the hope for prosperity in the coming year.

Lohri has deep cultural and agricultural significance in Punjabi society. The festival marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of Uttarayana (the auspicious period when the Sun moves north). It is a celebration of the harvest, particularly the winter crops like wheat, sugarcane, and mustard. The bonfire represents the energy and light of the Sun, and offerings made to the fire symbolize gratitude to nature and the divine.

The festival is also significant for newlyweds and new parents, as it is considered auspicious to celebrate the first Lohri after marriage or the birth of a child. Families come together to celebrate these milestones, exchange gifts, and seek blessings for prosperity and happiness. The community aspect of Lohri strengthens social bonds and reinforces cultural traditions.

Lohri embodies the spirit of Punjabi culture - vibrant, joyful, and community-oriented. The festival teaches values of gratitude, sharing, and celebration of life's simple pleasures. It is a time to express appreciation for the harvest, warmth, and togetherness, while also looking forward to new beginnings and prosperity in the year ahead.

• Lighting a large bonfire in the evening, around which family and community members gather
• Throwing offerings like sesame seeds (til), jaggery (gur), and popcorn (revri) into the bonfire
• Performing traditional Punjabi dances like Bhangra (by men) and Gidda (by women) around the bonfire
• Singing traditional Lohri songs praising Dulla Bhatti and celebrating the harvest
• Exchanging greetings and sweets with family, friends, and neighbors
• Children going door-to-door singing Lohri songs and receiving money and sweets (similar to trick-or-treating)
• Sharing traditional foods like sarson da saag, makki di roti, and various sweets
• Newlyweds and new parents celebrating their first Lohri with special ceremonies
• Gathering around the bonfire and performing parikrama (circumambulation) around it
• Distributing prasad (blessed food) and seeking blessings from elders

Lohri is celebrated with specific traditional foods that have cultural and nutritional significance:

• Til (Sesame Seeds) and Gur (Jaggery): Symbolizes unity and the sweetness of relationships, often thrown into the bonfire as an offering
• Revri and Gajak: Traditional sweets made from sesame seeds, jaggery, and peanuts
• Sarson da Saag and Makki di Roti: Mustard greens with cornbread, the quintessential Punjabi winter meal
• Popcorn and Peanuts: Light snacks that are thrown into the bonfire and also enjoyed
• Sweets and Dry Fruits: Various traditional sweets and nuts shared with family and neighbors
• Traditional Drinks: Warm beverages and sometimes homemade wine (in some communities)