Lohri 2026 date is Tuesday, January 13, and the bonfire will be lit across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time. Lohri festival Punjab is the most awaited harvest celebration of North India, marked one day before Makar Sankranti, when the earth tilts gently towards longer days and the rabi wheat crop stands golden in the fields. The festival honours Agni Dev (the fire god) and Surya Dev (the sun god) and signals the end of the harshest winter month of Paush. From traditional phulkari juttis to brass urns of offerings, every Punjabi household prepares a brass thali of rewari, gajak, popcorn and moongphali to throw into the bonfire. Browse our curated brass puja range at aagambrass.com/catalog.php for items that match the spirit of Lohri.
Lohri is not just a single evening of fire and dance; it is a complete cultural cycle of songs, sweets, new clothes, family reunions and the famous Lohri loot tradition where children go door to door asking for wood and snacks. The festival has agrarian roots in the sugarcane and wheat harvest, and over the centuries it has absorbed the folk legend of Dulla Bhatti, the heroic dacoit of Mughal-era Punjab who rescued girls from oppression. For deeper reading on North Indian harvest customs, visit the Deshna Wholesale blog.
Lohri 2026 Date, Time and Astrological Significance
Lohri is observed on the eve of Makar Sankranti every year, on the day when the sun transits from the southern hemisphere (Dakshinayan) and begins Uttarayan, the auspicious six-month period in Hindu astrology. In 2026, Lohri will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and the ideal bonfire window is from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The Lohri Sankranti moment, when the sun enters Makara (Capricorn), falls the next day on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 3:13 PM IST.
According to the Drik Panchang, the new financial year for farmers of Punjab begins on this day, and rent for agricultural land was traditionally collected on Lohri. The festival also coincides with the festival of Maghi in Haryana and Paush Sankranti in Bengal. For Punjabis worldwide, Lohri is a major family occasion that often surpasses even Diwali in emotional warmth, because it is the day the entire clan gathers around a single bonfire.
The Legend of Dulla Bhatti and the Folklore of Lohri
The soul of Lohri lies in the folk songs sung around the bonfire, and the most beloved of them praises Abdullah Khan Bhatti, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti, a 16th-century Punjabi hero from the Sandal Bar region of present-day Punjab. During Mughal rule, Dulla Bhatti resisted the forced abduction of young Hindu girls who were being taken to the harems of Lahore. He rescued these girls, married them off with proper Sikh and Hindu rituals, and gave them dowry from his own land.
The iconic Lohri song that begins with "Dulla Bhatti ho! Dulla Bhatti ho!" recounts his acts of bravery, and the phrase "Aadar aye dilather jaye" (may honour come and poverty vanish) is chanted by every group gathered around the fire. Through the centuries, Dulla Bhatti has become a folk Robin Hood of Punjab, and his memory is the emotional reason why Lohri maggi popcorn rewari distribution is treated as an act of social sharing rather than a mere ritual offering.
Traditional Lohri Rituals: From Bonfire to Bhangra
The Lohri bonfire festival Punjabi traditions begin in the morning itself, when children visit neighbouring homes singing Lohri songs and collecting wood, sugarcane, sesame seeds and jaggery. This is called Lohri loot, the Punjabi version of trick-or-treat. In the afternoon, the women of the household prepare the Lohri thali, which traditionally contains:
- Rewari – sesame and jaggery brittle
- Gajak – thin sesame or peanut sweet
- Moongphali (peanuts) – symbol of prosperity
- Khilone (popcorn) – puffed rice representing abundance
- Maggi (dried sugarcane) – for sweetness and the harvest
- Til aur gur (sesame and jaggery) – the core Lohri prasad
As the sun sets, a small woodpile is arranged in the courtyard or community ground. A senior male member of the family lights the bonfire with a torch made of dry grass. Everyone gathers around, and the head of the family offers the first handfuls of rewari, popcorn and sesame to Agni Dev, chanting the Lohri mantra. This is followed by the famous Bhangra and Gidda dances to the beats of the dhol, with elders throwing sweets at the dancers as blessings.
First Lohri for Newlyweds and Newborns
The first Lohri for newlyweds and newborns is one of the most photographed moments of Punjabi family life. The bride is dressed in a red phulkari suit and seated beside the bonfire, while family members throw popcorn, rewari and dried fruits on her lap and sing the traditional Lohri song "Sundar Mundriye Ho!". The father-in-law or grandfather gifts her clothes, jewellery and a brass thali. For a newborn, the first Lohri is called "Lohri di lovi" and the child is dressed in colourful clothes, rocked in a decorated brass jhoola, and given gifts of gold, silver and a brass katori set. Many Punjabi families also gift a small brass Ganesh or Lakshmi idol at this time as a blessing for prosperity.
Lohri Food: Sarson da Saag, Makke di Roti and Punjabi Sweets
No Lohri festival Punjab celebration is complete without the iconic winter platter of Sarson da Saag (mustard greens) and Makke di Roti (corn flatbread). The saag is slow-cooked overnight on a wood fire with spinach, bathua, ginger, garlic and ghee, and eaten with fresh white butter, jaggery and makke di roti. Other Punjabi Lohri specials include:
- Gud ki Gajak – jaggery and sesame brittle
- Dahi Bhalle – lentil dumplings in yoghurt
- Murmura Laddu – puffed rice sweet balls
- Pindi Chane – spiced chickpeas
- Atta ka Halwa – whole wheat pudding
- Panjeeri – a dry sweet made with whole wheat flour, ghee, sugar and dry fruits
For families observing Lohri in colder regions like Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana, the dinner is followed by hot kheer and a long night of giddha dance. The cultural weight of Lohri is such that the Punjab and Haryana governments declare it an official gazetted holiday, and the festival is now celebrated by Punjabi diaspora communities in Canada, the UK, Australia and the US.
Lohri 2026 Across India and the World
While Punjab and Haryana are the spiritual home of Lohri, the festival is celebrated with equal joy in Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu, Lohri is called Lal Loi; in Himachal Pradesh, it is known as Magha Saaji; and in the Sindhi community, it is celebrated as Saila. Lohri 2026 also coincides with Makar Sankranti 2026 on January 14, and most families observe both festivals with a continuous two-day celebration.
Outside India, Lohri is celebrated by Punjabi diaspora in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, London, Sydney and Melbourne, where gurdwaras and community centres host large bonfires and Bhangra competitions. The festival is also a useful reminder of the warm, communal ethos of Punjabi culture, where even strangers are invited to share the Lohri prasad.
Bringing Lohri Home: Brass Idols and Deshna Wholesale
For households that wish to carry the Lohri spirit into their home temple, brass idols make a beautiful and long-lasting gift. A small brass Ganesh idol, a brass Lakshmi statue, or a hand-hammered brass kalash can be placed on the puja shelf before lighting the Lohri bonfire, and it will stay in the family for generations. Deshna Wholesale crafts brass puja items, brass thalis, brass lotas and brass diyas in the Khatauli brass belt of Uttar Pradesh, the traditional heart of Indian brass craftsmanship. For wholesale or retail orders, browse the collection at aagambrass.com/catalog.php or place a custom order via +91 93586 85800 on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is Lohri 2026 celebrated in India?
A: Lohri 2026 falls on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the evening before Makar Sankranti. The bonfire is lit between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time, and the Lohri Sankranti moment occurs on January 14, 2026 at 3:13 PM.
Q: Why is Lohri celebrated one day before Makar Sankranti?
A: Lohri is celebrated on the last day of the Paush month, when the sun is in the southern hemisphere. Makar Sankranti is observed the next day when the sun enters Capricorn (Makara) and Uttarayan begins. The two festivals together mark the end of winter and the start of longer, warmer days.
Q: What is the significance of the Lohri bonfire?
A: The Lohri bonfire symbolises Agni Dev, the fire god, who is offered sesame, jaggery, popcorn, peanuts and sugarcane as gratitude for the harvest. Walking around the fire seven times is believed to bring prosperity, health and removal of negativity for the coming year.
Q: Who was Dulla Bhatti and why is he remembered on Lohri?
A: Dulla Bhatti was a 16th-century Punjabi folk hero of the Sandal Bar region who resisted the abduction of Hindu girls by Mughal officials. He rescued them, performed their marriages with proper Hindu rituals and provided dowry. He is remembered through Lohri songs that begin with "Dulla Bhatti ho!"
Q: What should be given as Lohri prasad?
A: The traditional Lohri prasad includes rewari, gajak, popcorn, peanuts, sesame seeds (til), jaggery (gur) and dried fruits. Newlyweds and newborns are also gifted clothes, jewellery and a brass thali filled with dry fruits and sweets.
Conclusion: Lohri 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and the bonfire will be lit at sunset across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and the global Punjabi diaspora. The festival is a beautiful blend of harvest gratitude, Agni Dev worship, Dulla Bhatti folk heroism, Bhangra dance and family blessings for newlyweds and newborns. Plan your Lohri thali, invite the neighbourhood, and let the warmth of the bonfire mark the beginning of Uttarayan 2026.
For traditional brass puja items, brass idols, brass thalis and brass kalash sets, visit aagambrass.com/catalog.php or place your order with the Deshna Wholesale team. For bulk and export enquiries, message us on WhatsApp +91 93586 85800.