Last updated on January 8th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Lohri: Celebrating Harvest and Heritage
Lohri, one of the most vibrant festivals of Northern India, is celebrated to mark the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season.
The festival falls on January 13 every year, according to the Gregorian calendar. However, according to the regional calendar, Lohri falls on the last day of the month of Paush, which is the coldest month of the year.
Lohri is primarily celebrated in the Indian States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Jammu, and New Delhi.
The day after Lohri marks the beginning of the Magh month, and hence, it is called Maghi in Punjab.
This (Maghi) is the day when Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Magh Bihu in Assam, and Makar Sankranti in most other parts of India, such as Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
What is Lohri?
Lohri marks the passing of the winter solstice and the sun’s journey towards the northern hemisphere, known as Uttarayan. Traditionally, this day symbolises longer days and the onset of spring.
For farmers, predominantly those in Punjab, Lohri marks the end of the winter crop season and the harvest of Rabi crops, such as wheat, mustard, and sugarcane.
Fire is central to Lohri celebrations, symbolizing warmth, energy, and hope for prosperity.
It is believed that offering grains, jaggery, and sesame seeds to the sacred fire brings blessings of abundance.
The Origins of Lohri
The name “Lohri” is believed to have evolved over centuries. Some think it derives from the word ‘Loh,’ a thick iron stick used for making chapatis, signifying warmth and sustenance.
Another belief is that the word was derived from the word “Loi”, who was the wife of Kabir, the great saint.
Additionally, others believe that the word Lohri originated from the word ‘Tilorhi‘, which is derived from the combination of the words ‘rorhi’ (jaggery) and ’til’ (sesame), popular food items during this time.
Harvest Season and Lohri
Lohri is deeply connected to the agricultural rhythms of Northern India, especially Punjab, where farming has long been the backbone of life and livelihood.
To truly understand the festival, it is helpful to understand its connection to the Rabi harvest and the natural changes that occur during this time of year.
January marks the end of the coldest stretch of winter—when the fields, once quiet and frost-touched, begin showing signs of life.
Farmers eagerly anticipate this time because it signals the approaching harvest of Rabi crops, the winter crops sown in October and November. These crops include:
- Wheat
- Mustard
- Sugarcane
- Barley
- Chickpeas
By early January, the crops stand tall and golden, promising an abundance of harvest.
Lohri arrives as a joyful pause—a moment for communities to come together, express gratitude, and celebrate nature’s generosity.
Why Farmers Celebrate Lohri
For farming families, Lohri isn’t just a cultural festival—it’s a thanksgiving ceremony. The bonfire symbolizes the sun, the giver of life and warmth.
As the sun begins its northward journey (Uttarayan), each day grows a little longer and a little lighter. This shift brings renewed energy to both the fields and the people tending them.
Traditionally, farmers offered til (sesame seeds), gur (jaggery), rewari, and chirwa to the fire as a way of thanking the elements—sun, soil, water, and air—for a successful growing season.
These foods represent prosperity, purity, and nourishment:
- Til (sesame) is believed to bring warmth and good health during winter.
- Gur (jaggery) symbolizes sweetness in life.
- Peanuts and popcorn represent the bounty of the land.
The bonfire itself acts as a symbolic marker of this transition—standing around its warmth signifies stepping into a period of light, growth, and renewal.
While we are talking about Harvest, browse our recommended list of Harvest Books for Kids.
The Story of Dullah Bhatti
Lohri is intricately associated with the folk hero Dullah Bhatti, often hailed as the Punjabi Robin Hood, who plays a significant role in the festival’s folklore.
We grew up listening to the stories of Rai Abdullah Bhatti a.k.a ‘Dullah Bhatti’ and the most popular folk song ‘Sundar Mundariye‘ that came by as a result of his actions.
In the story, during the reign of Emperor Akbar, Dullah Bhatti is said to have defied the Mughal regime, standing up against unfair tax policies, the exploitation of farmers, and protecting vulnerable women.
He is especially remembered for rescuing girls from being sold into slavery in the Middle East. He would rescue them and arrange their marriages to suitable boys.
These weddings were celebrated around a fire, and festive songs were sung. Hence, the tradition of bonfires on Lohri was born.
To this day, on Lohri, songs praising Dullah Bhatti’s valour and generosity are sung around the bonfire.
Two of the young girls’ names, Sundri and Mundri, are included in one of the most famous folk songs:
“Sundar mundriye ho! Tera kaun vichara ho! Dulla Bhatti wala ho!”
These verses highlight Dullah’s contributions and remind people of the values of courage and community support.
Introducing Lohri to Kids
Lohri is one of those festivals that kids instantly connect with—bonfires, music, dancing, and lots of crunchy, sweet treats. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to the stories and values behind the celebration.
Here are few simple and engaging ways to help children learn about Lohri in a meaningful (and fun!) way.
1. Watch a Kid-Friendly Lohri Video
Parent Tip: Watch the video yourself before sharing it with kids to ensure it aligns with your family’s preferences and values.
This video on the festivals of Lohri/Pongal/Makar Sankranti is in Hindi for our budding Hindi learners. Watch this video in English – Lohri Video.
2. Read a Book on Lohri Together
Books are one of the easiest, warmest ways to introduce festivals to children. The visuals, conversations, and stories pull kids in and make traditions stick. If you have a Lohri-themed picture book at home, use it to:
- Explain the meaning of the festival
- Introduce Dullah Bhatti as a hero kids can root for
- Show how families celebrate with food, songs, and bonfires
- Reinforce cultural vocabulary like makki di roti, sarson da saag, rewri, and bonfire offerings
Lohri is filled with stories — of warmth, harvest, and community. If you’re looking for gentle ways to introduce these ideas to kids, this list of children’s books for Makar Sankranti, Lohri, and Pongal is a good place to start.
3. Attend a local Lohri Celebration
This goes without saying. If there is a local Gurudwara in your city, there will most likely be Lohri celebrations.
If you cannot go out, have your little bonfire at home and enjoy the festival!
Our celebrations vary each year. One year we went to the local Gurudwara, the next year we had a little bonfire in the backyard with some peanuts and popcorn, and still another year we just stayed in and listened to Lohri songs on YouTube and danced with the kids!
4. Connecting Kids to the Harvest Story
For children, harvest season can be an exciting lens through which to understand Lohri:
- You can explain how wheat and mustard grow, and why farmers celebrate this time of year.
- Show pictures or videos of lush green fields turning golden.
- Talk about how food on our plates comes from months of hard work in the fields.
- Help them make small offerings — peanuts, popcorn, or sesame seeds—as a way to say thank you to nature.
This connection between the festival and the harvest makes Lohri more meaningful.
If you want to learn about Harvest, I have just the books for you! Take a look at our Blog on Harvest Books that honor and celebrate harvest festivals in India.
Celebrations – Rituals and Traditions
1. A Community Celebration
Harvest time is naturally a moment of joy, relief, and community bonding.
Preparing for the harvest means that families and neighbours come together, helping with fieldwork, sharing meals, and celebrating the end of a hardworking season.
Lohri captures this spirit of togetherness beautifully. In villages, Lohri was traditionally celebrated in open fields or shared courtyards. People gathered around a large communal bonfire, sang folk songs, and danced to the beat of dhols.
Children went door-to-door collecting snacks—peanuts, sweets, and rewri—much like a harvest tradition of sharing abundance.
2. Kids getting Sweets
As part of Lohri celebrations, starting a few nights before Lohri, young boys and girls visit door to door singing songs and asking for sweets and other eatables, and often singing a small song.
“De mai lohdi , Jeeve teri jodi
Khol mai kunda, Jeeve tera munda”
This roughly translates to:
“Give me a Lohri gift, may your pair always thrive.
Open your treasure chest of joy, may your little boy grow strong.”
This tradition of going house to house collecting sweets can be equated to the festival of Halloween, and can be a good example to share with kids while teaching them about the festival of Lohri.
3. Bonfire
The heart of Lohri celebrations is the bonfire, lit after sunset. People gather around it to perform rituals and seek blessings.
Offerings like moongfali (peanuts) and popcorn are thrown into the flames as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for the harvest.
For many, the fire represents burning away negativity, old worries, or challenges from the past year. As families walk around it together, they symbolically invite new beginnings, prosperity, and happiness.
Traditionally, families and neighbours walked around the fire while singing Sundar Mundriye and other folk songs. This created a sense of unity—celebrating not just as individuals but as a community.
For kids, it’s an easy way to understand: “Fire brings us together. We go around it to say thank you and welcome good things.”
You can explain this to children as:
- We go around the fire to show gratitude.
- We offer food from the harvest to thank nature.
- We welcome light, warmth, and goodness into our home.
This simple ritual beautifully connects children with the cultural and spiritual roots of Lohri.
4. Singing and Dancing
Traditional Punjabi folk songs, accompanied by energetic Bhangra and Giddha dances, are central to Lohri festivities.
Bhangra: The Energetic Celebration of Harvest
Bhangra is the heartbeat of Lohri. Traditionally performed by Punjabi men, this dance form began as a way to celebrate a successful harvest.
The steps mimic movements from agricultural life—sowing seeds, cutting crops, and rejoicing after months of hard work.
Giddha: Women’s Joyful Expression
Giddha, traditionally performed by women, is another beloved dance form associated with Lohri.
Instead of fast, high-energy moves, Giddha focuses on graceful claps, rhythmic footwork, and boliyan—short, witty folk verses.
These verses share stories of daily life, family, humor, and togetherness. During Lohri, Giddha becomes a way for women to express gratitude, community bonding, and festive cheer.
The Dhol: The Heartbeat of Lohri
The unmistakable rhythm of the dhol is what brings Lohri to life.
This double-sided drum has been central to Punjabi folk culture for centuries, especially during celebrations tied to farming and harvest.
Why the Dhol Matters in Lohri
- It sets the rhythm for Bhangra and Giddha.
- Its deep, energetic beats symbolize joy, abundance, and community spirit.
- The dhol traditionally signalled the start of festivities, calling neighbours together long before microphones and speakers existed.
- Many families still invite a live dholi (dhol player) for the authentic festive sound, especially at community gatherings or cultural programs.
You can even play a short dhol beat video during story time or cultural lessons—it instantly brings the festival alive for young learners.
5. Feasting
Food plays a pivotal role in Lohri. The festive spread includes delicacies like Makki di roti (corn roti) and Sarson da saag (a mustard dish), Pinni, and Panjeeri.
The most famous snacks during this time are til (sesame) ke laddoo, phulley (popcorn), ganna (sugarcane), peanuts, gur ki gajak (peanut and jaggery brittle), and til ki Rewari (sesame seed snack).
First Lohri
In Punjabi households, special significance is given to the ‘first Lohri’ celebrated after a wedding or the birth of a child.
It is marked with extra pomp and grandeur as families gather to bless the newlyweds or newborns with love, good health, and prosperity.
The new bride is showered with gifts, clothes, and more, and her hands are painted with mehndi.
Similar festivities follow for the newborn and the new mother to welcome them into the family.
Interesting Facts About Lohri
- The date on which Lohri is celebrated changes every 70 years as it is determined by traditional Lunar-Solar calendars.
- This day is celebrated as ‘Lal Loi’ in the Sindh region.
- Lohri is closely followed by Maghi in Punjab and Makar Sankranti in other parts of India.
Lohri Song:
Sunder Mundriye ho!
Tera Kaun Vichaara ho!
Dullah Bhatti walla ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser Shakkar payee ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saal upaata ho!
Salu kaun samete!
Chacha gali dese!
Chacha choori kutti! zamidara lutti!
Zamindaar sudhaaye!
Bum bum bhole aaye!
Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahi far ke lai gaya!
Sipahee ne maari itt!
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pitt!
Sanoo de de lohri, te teri jeeve jodi!
From Lohri’s Warmth to Makar Sankranti’s Sunshine
Lohri isn’t just about one evening around a bonfire. It’s about coming together, saying thank you for the food on our plates, and celebrating the little joys.
From the beat of the dhol to kids trying their first Bhangra or Giddha steps, Lohri is full of moments that stay with us long after the fire dies down.
And as Lohri comes to an end, it smoothly leads us into the next celebration—Makar Sankranti.
The message stays the same: winter is easing, days are getting longer, and something new is beginning.
Lohri celebrates this change with fire and folk songs, while Makar Sankranti welcomes it with sunshine, kites, and traditions from all across India.
Explore More Indian Harvest Festivals
Lohri is one of many harvest festivals celebrated across India during winter. You may also enjoy reading about Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan, and Magh Bihu, and seeing how different regions welcome the same season in their own beautiful ways.
