Today is Lohri

The auspicious festival of Lohri is celebrated with much pomp by the people of Haryana and Punjab, especially from the Hindu and Sikh community. Also known as Lohadi or Lal Loi, Lohri falls a day before Makar Sankranti.

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The auspicious festival of Lohri is celebrated with much pomp by the people of Haryana and Punjab, especially from the Hindu and Sikh community. Also known as Lohadi or Lal Loi, Lohri falls a day before Makar Sankranti. 

This year, there is some confusion about when Lohri should be celebrated. Many people are unsure whether it falls on January 13 or 14. According to Drik Panchang, the Lohri festival will take place on  January 14, 2023. 

The traditional winter folk festival from Punjab is attended by farmers all around the country as it is the annual harvest festival. As part of the harvest ritual, foods such as til (black sesame seeds), gur (jaggery), gajak, popcorn, and peanuts are offered to the fire. 

The festival of Lohri is said to commemorate Dulha Bhatti’s bravery and his resistance against the tyranny of the Mughal rulers. During Lohri festivities, bonfires are lit, sweets are exchanged, and traditional Punjabi folk songs and dances are performed in honour of Dulha Bhatti.

The shortest day and longest night of the year, Lohri is also known as the ‘Winter Solstice.’ 

Signifying the end of winter and the arrival of spring, Lohri is derived from the words ‘Tilohri,’ meaning sesame or ’til’, and ‘rorhi,’ which is also called jaggery or ‘gur’.