Lohri is a Punjabi festival celebrated on January 13.
The Punjabi festival of Lohri falls on January 13, and celebrates the winter solstice. This year, it fell on a Saturday and was celebrated by many in India. The name Lohri is derived from the Punjabi word “loh”, which means “fiery” or “hot”. It’s also known as Bhogali Bihu, which means the festival of food. As well as marking the first day of winter, Lohri also marks the end of harvest season in Punjab and other parts of northern India. Traditionally, families would gather together to celebrate Lohri by eating kachoris (fried pastry), samosas (fried pastry with a savoury filling) and various other dishes.
As well as being a celebration of food, Lohri is also an occasion for families to spend time together after a long harvest season. While most Indian families celebrate it at home with their loved ones, some people do attend larger celebrations in community halls or parks.
