As the winter chill begins to fade, the vibrant spirit of Lohri 2026 brings families together. It’s a festival that celebrate the promise of a bountiful harvest and new beginnings.

Do you belong to a Punjabi family?

Even if you are not a Punjabi, still there is a chance that you might get attracted towards this festival.

Yes, we are SRK Fans and we have seen the captivating song “Lodi” from his movie, “Veer-Zaara”.

Have you seen it?

I have never seen a better representation of a festival, especially Lohri in a song but that one catches all the attention. 

Okay, let’s talk about Lohri, It is a festival of warmth and abundance which can be called a cherished celebration. It marks the beginning of harvest season in Northern India. Do you know the Lohri 2026 date and time? Lohri is celebrated on 13^th of January every year. This time is called mid-winter as the hard winter days come to an end. We are almost near the festival and on next Tuesday, we will be sending Happy Lohri 2026 wishes.

Dive in to get more details about the Lohri festival significance like When is Lohri in 2026? How do we celebrate it?

Lohri 2026 Quick Facts

The legend of Dulla Bhatti

According to popular belief, there is a popular story of Dulla Bhatti. He was a local hero from Punjab at the time of the Mughal era. Dulla Bhatti fought against Mughal domination and saved the Punjabi girls who were forcefully taken by the Mughals. 

Later on, he arranged the marriage of all these girls and provided dowries also to their in-laws. He has done heroic deeds which are remembered during Lohri, through the songs like “Sundar Mundriye”. Do you know the Sunder Mundriye song meaning? This song appreciates his bravery and courage and people sing this song during the celebrations.

As per the ancient beliefs, the burning of Lohri bonfire specifies the deletion of evil and the success of good. 

This festival is connected with the worship of Lord Surya (Sun), one day after Lohri we celebrate Makar Sankranti 2026. The bonfire and offerings made to the god are considered as an act of gratitude. It’s also a prayer for continuous fortune and warmth in the upcoming time of year. When the Punjabi farmers begin to reap the bounty of their harvest of the Rabi reaps, mainly wheat, after that we celebrate Lohri.

How is Lohri Celebrated? Traditional Rituals and Customs in 2026

The Lohri celebration is beyond observation and it attracts everyone to the cheerful celebration. All the family members come together to celebrate and it makes this festival the celebration of unity, love and happiness. Let’s know and Best Ways to Celebrate Lohri;

The Ritual of the Sacred Bonfire

Do you know the most important ritual of Lohri? It is lighting up the bonfire. Let’s know about Lohri bonfire rituals;

• The Preparation: A few days before the Lohri begins, we start collecting sticks, dry leaves and old clothes to light up the bonfire.
• The Significance: On the night of Lohri, we light up the bonfires in open spaces. It indicates the return of Sun God after the hard winter days ends.
• The Atmosphere: The bonfire not only lights up the sky but also our hearts. It elevates the celebration of the festival.

Offerings to the God of Fire

What’s next? Once the fire is lit, we pay our respects through traditional offerings.

• The Offering: Things like sugarcane, sweets, moongphali and chirwa are thrown in the bonfire as a part of offering it to the God of Fire, Agni.
• The Prasad: Later on, we also distribute these items as Lohri Prasad to everyone.

Music, Dance, and Festive Vibes

Then people gather around the bonfire where we sing traditional folk songs and perform our cultural dance:

• Bhangra & Gidda: We perform these energetic dance forms to celebrate the season.
• The Rhythm: The rhythmic dhol sound is enough to uplift the mood and all we can do is just enjoy the festive vibes.

A Time for New Beginnings and Community

With Lohri, we say goodbye to the cold winter nights by welcoming the longer, warmer and brighter days.

• New Milestones: Whether a newborn baby has arrived or a newlywed bride, Lohri is a warm expression of gratefulness. We show gratitude to nature and a prayer for continuous fortune.
• Agrarian Traditions: As per agrarian traditions, Lohri is not just a harvest festival. Its a time to celebrate the Punjabi tradition and community spirit.

Traditional Lohri food items

When we talk about festivals, the first thing that comes to mind is food; Lohri is also a great and huge festival of Indians, so let’s explore the food items.

Mouth-Watering Dishes of Lohri

On Lohri, we get the chance to taste the mouth-watering Punjabi dishes such as:

• The Most Popular: “Makki di Roti te vich Sarson Da Saag”
• Other Festive Items: Gajak, Til Rewari, Til Laddo, and Jaggery.

Why We Love Lohri Food?

These amazing food items make us happy from inside out and they are good for the taste buds. 

• Cultural Significance: They hold cultural significance which is perfect for the festive environment. Til, Gur, and Rewari significance makes these an important food items of the festival.

Must-Have Items for Lohri Rituals:

• Sweets: Gajak, Sarson ka Saag, and Makki ki Roti.
• Offerings: Popcorn, peanuts, and sesame seeds for the bonfire.
• Gifts: Traditional jewelry or “Sagan” (cash blessings).

First Lohri Celebrations: Special Traditions for New Brides and Newborns

First Lohri after marriage

Lohri is even more special for a newly-wed bride. Do you want to know why?

The in-laws of the bride invite her to their home for the first Lohri where a grand celebration is hosted. The bride gets dressed just like a bride with traditional clothes. She adorns herself with flowers, and accessories like bindi, necklaces, earrings, bangles, toe rings, armlets, waistbands, and anklets. Also, she put on mehndi, and fragrances like sandalwood paste and perfume.

Then, the new bride and groom sit at the center where friends and family come up, wish them and give gifts like clothes, jewellery and other items.

First Lohri with a newborn baby

We all know that a child birth is considered as an auspicious time. The first lohri is also special for the new parents and baby so the family organizes a grand celebration. In this event, the maternal and paternal families give their blessings and gifts to the new born and the parents. If you want, we can also give you Baby’s first Lohri celebration ideas.Let us know.

The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of the Lohri Festival

Lohri is a very special festival for the Punjabis. The bonfire signifies the removal of old ideas, notions, and thoughts. Agni (fire) is a vital element in Hindu marriages. It is also the supporting force of life and hence, people worship and respect the same. 

This festival is also called “harvest festival of Punjab,” and it is celebrated every year.  

In Northern India, and Punjab, Lohri marks the beginning of the festivities with an honour to the farmers. As we all know that they work too hard and they are the reason why we are eating the best foods. 

In my opinion, celebrating Lohri can be the best start for the New Year. Why? Because in this Lohri harvest festival rabi crops celebration, we get everything we need.

We enjoy the friendly gatherings, eat foods, dance to the cultural song and worship the supreme deity. 

As we all know that we are living in a world full of virtual meetings and video conferences, Lohri is the welcoming festival we need.  Get closer to your family, friends and all your loved ones. 

Tell us in the comments what do you like the most about Lohri?

Also Read: Sakat Chauth 2026 Date, Important Timing, Rituals, Special Ganesh Pooja and Moonrise time

FAQs:

Q: When do we celebrate Lohri?

A: We celebrate Lohri on January 13^th, every year on the previous night of Makar Sankranti, The Kite festival.

Q: How do we celebrate Lohri in the present time?

A: In present time, we celebrate by coming together and lighting community bonfires, cultural programs. We also give festive greetings on social media. 

Q: Is there any connection between Lohri and the Sun God?

A: Lohri is celebrated a night before Makar Sankranti when the Sun transitions toward the northern hemisphere. On this festival, we honor the Sun God (Surya) as he gives warmth and energy which are the most essential things for a fruitful harvest.

Q: Can non-Punjabis celebrate Lohri?

A: Yes, anyone can celebrate Lohri, it is a festival of joy, togetherness, and gratefulness.