Lohri 2024: Significance, History And How To Celebrate The Harvest Festival
NDTV
Happy Lohri 2024: Lohri is mostly celebrated in Punjab, and also in nearby states of Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh.
Lohri, the harvest festival of north India, will be celebrated on January 14 this year. Also called 'Lohadi' or 'Lal Loi', Lohri is mostly celebrated in Punjab, and also in nearby states of Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. Observed by Hindu and Sikh communities, celebrations of Lohri involve lighting a holy bonfire, gathering around it, and offering prayers and food to the fire God. It is a time when people express gratitude for the harvest and pray for prosperity.
Lohri marks the end of the sowing season of winter crops and makes way for a good harvest season. The Punjabi and Hindu communities pray to the Sun god (Surya devta) and Fire God (agni) for agricultural prosperity and abundant harvesting of the crops sown before the winter season. Lohri comes a day before the Makar Sankranti festival, which welcomes warmer days ahead with shorter nights and longer days.
Lohri also holds special significance for the newly married couple or the newborn child in the family as family members and relatives gather together to celebrate their first Lohri. It is also traditional to eat "til rice" which is made by mixing jaggery, sesame seeds, and rice on this day.
