Lohri 2022: Know the History and Significance of This Harvest Festival of North India

Lohri one of the popular harvest festival will be celebrated with much zeal across the nation on January 13, a night before Makar Sankranti i.e. January 14, 2022. 

The festival is predominantly celebrated in the northern states such as Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana by gathering together with community members and lighting a bonfire to welcome the longer, warmer days ahead in the year 2021. Some beliefs say that the festival is celebrated to mark the end of peak winter. Lohri, however, is also associated with the harvest of the rabi crops. 

On this day, people perform folk dances such as Gidda and Bhangra. People also celebrate sheaves of roasted corn in Lohri while gur (Jaggery) and Gud Chikki/ Gajak are central in the celebrations. Apart from this, kite flying is also popular on the occasion. 

Here's all you need to know about this popular harvest festival Lohri: 

Date 

• Lohri is celebrated on January 13 every year and marks the end of winter 

• Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on the next day of Lohri. January 14.

Significance 

It is believed that the Lohri festival commemorates the passing of the winter solstice. It also marks the beginning of the harvest season of Rabi crops in Punjab and other states. People also celebrate Lohri to pay homage to Sun God for gracing all with his presence and for the bumper harvest yield. 

Some mythological legends also believe that Lohri was Holika's sister who, along with Bhakt Prahlad, survived the fire while some believe that the festival was named after Loi, the name of saint Kabir's wife. This explains why people light a bonfire to celebrate the festival of Lohri.

Wish you a Happy Lohri! Wishing this harvest season brings happiness and prosperity to you and your family.