Lohri 2025: A Joyous Celebration of Harvest and Togetherness

Lohri 2025 is a happy and lively festival celebrated mainly in Punjab and northern India. It is held every year on January 13, 2025 (Monday) and marks the end of the coldest days of winter. This festival is important for farmers because it celebrates the harvest of crops like sugarcane and wheat. 

People celebrate Lohri by lighting a big bonfire and gathering around it with family and friends. They sing traditional songs, dance to the beats of Dhol, and enjoy treats like popcorn, jaggery, peanuts, and sesame seeds. The bonfire is a way to thank nature for the harvest and pray for a good future.

Lohri festival is also a special occasion for celebrating new beginnings, such as the birth of a baby or a newly married couple. It brings people together, spreading happiness, warmth, and gratitude. In this article, you will learn about Lohri 2025—its history, significance, and rituals to make your celebration even more meaningful. We wish you a very Happy Lohri 2025.

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• Makar Sankranti 2025: A Celebration of Harvest and New Beginnings

• Pongal 2025: Date, Significance, and How It’s Celebrated

Different Names of Lohri Festival and Harvest Celebrations Across India

Lohri is celebrated with different names across various states in India, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity. While it is known as Lohri in Punjab and Haryana, other regions observe similar harvest festivals in their unique ways. Pongal In Tamil Nadu, Bihu In Assam, Uttarayan In Gujarat, Bhogi In Andhra Pradesh and Makar Sankranti in Central India. Despite the different names and traditions, these festivals share the common themes of joy, gratitude, and celebrating the harvest season.

Lohri is typically observed the evening before Maghi, based on the solar calendar of Punjab, and is usually celebrated on January 13. In 2025, Lohri falls on Monday, January 13.

Lohri 2025 Dates

History of Lohri Festival

There are several beliefs and opinions behind why we celebrate Lohri. The main story about Lohri is linked to Dulla Bhatti. According to the legends, Dulla Bhatti used to live in the Mughal district of Punjab and was popular among people as a fearless man who rescued Hindu girls - Sundri and Mundri from being forcibly trafficked as slaves in the Middle Eastern markets from the Sandal Bar region. These girls and Dulla Bhatti have become a theme of Punjab folk songs.

Another story revolves around the wife of Saint Kabir, “Loi”, as some people believe that Lohri has derived its name from here, while many legends think that the festival derived its name from the word “Loh”, which stands for light and warmness. Another belief is that Holika and Lohr were sisters where Holika died in the fire, and the latter survived the same.

On this day, the winter crop of Punjab, wheat, is seen prime in January, which is later harvested in March after a few weeks of harvesting the Rabi crop. Another significant belief is that on this day, the Sun enters the zodiac of Capricorn, which is considered auspicious. This is why the festival is called “Makar Sankranti”.

How to Celebrate the Lohri Festival 2025?

• Bonfire Rituals: The main thing of Lohri celebrations is the bonfire, symbolising warmth and gratitude for a successful harvest. Families and communities gather around the fire to mark the end of winter and share joyous moments.

• Offerings to the Fire: People offer items like popcorn, peanuts, puffed rice, and jaggery to the fire as a way of seeking blessings. These offerings are a gesture of gratitude to the fire god for prosperity and abundance.

• Dance and Music: Special dances like “Bhangra” and “Gidda” are performed around the bonfire, accompanied by the vibrant beats of the Dhol. These dances reflect the cultural heritage and festive spirit of Punjab.

• Sweet Treats and Festive Feasts: Lohri is incomplete without sharing delicious sweets like rewri, gajak, and til laddoos. Families also prepare some special dishes like sarson da saag and makki di roti, enjoyed together in a celebratory feast.

• Pre-Festival Preparations: In the days leading up to Lohri, people collect wood for the bonfire, exchange grains and jaggery with neighbours, and plan gatherings to celebrate with their loved ones.

• Prayers and Gratitude: The festival holds spiritual significance as people pray to the fire god, seeking blessings for their land, family, and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.

Decorate your homes for Lohri 2025 with Rangoli, lights, and handmade crafts while wearing traditional outfits like kurtas, salwar kameez, phulkari dupattas, Patiala pants, and turbans. Special sweets like popcorn, peanuts, and gajak can also be prepared to make the Lohri festival even more delightful.

Significance of Lohri 

Punjabi Lohri has a significant role in the state of Punjab, where Wheat, a major winter crop, is planted in the month of October and gets reaped in March or April. In the month of January, it can be seen in its prime stage as the fields turn all gold. This is why farmers celebrate the festival of Lohri during this period before reaping and collecting all the crops.

Lohri is observed to commemorate the ending of the winter solstice and the movements of the Sun towards the northern hemisphere, after which the days become longer and nights become shorter. Lohri is about celebrating these warmer days and harvesting rabi crops by farmers signified through bonfires and throwing puffed rice. The earth starts its journey towards the Sun during this time, commemorating the coldest months of the year.

Happy Lohri 2025 Wishes:

1. May the sweetness of rewari and gajak bring sweetness to your life. Happy Lohri!

2. As the bonfire crackles, may your heart be filled with the glow of happiness. Happy Lohri!

3. Dance around the bonfire of joy, and let the sparks of Lohri light up your dreams. Happy Lohri!