लोहड़ी LohriJanuary 13, 2026 -Rohit Kumar Parmar
- rohitkparmar
- Jan 11
- 7 min read
Pic Lohri01 A Small Lohri fire
लोहड़ी Lohri
January 13, 2026
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
`लोहड़ी दी लख-लख वधाईयां ’ `Lohri Dee Lakh Lakh Vadhaeeyaan’
The word लोहड़ी Lohri is synthesised from til (sesame seeds) and rorhi (jaggery/ gur), as 'tilohri', which are traditionally eaten around/ during the festival to give warmth to the body in winter. The name 'tilohri', over time changed to ‘Lohri’.
Lohri is a popular winter folk festival celebrated primarily in the states of erstwhile Punjab (the land of five rivers), the Indian part consisting of Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, today’s Punjab; [2] Jammu region, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh; and in parts of Pakistan (especially the Punjab province). It is also celebrated by the Indian diaspora (especially the Punjabi diaspora).
The Sindhi community in India and Pakistan celebrates Lohri as Lal Loi.
Lohri is celebrated on the night before Makar Sankranti. It is one of the few festivals which falls on the same date every year (January 13/ 14). On Lohri, people greet each other `लोहड़ी दी लख-लख वधाईयां’ (Lohri Dee Lakh Lakh Vadhaeeyaan).
On Makar Sankranti (the day following Lohri), there are celebrations for Ghugutiya, Khichidi Sankranti, Magha Ra Saza, Maghi Parva, Maghi Saaji, Maghi Sangrand, Makar Sankranti, Makara Vilakku, Pedda Panduga, Pongal, Pithe/ Poush Parbon/ Sankranti, Shishur Senkrath, Thai Pongal, Til Sakraat, Tirmoori, Tusu, Uttarayana (Uttarain), Uttarayani. [3]
Festivities and celebrations with different names and associated rituals across states/ regions of India/ overseas, which are spread over four days, symbolise unity in diversity, but not necessarily as a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all. In a pre-dominantly agricultural society, these festivities and celebrations are timed with the ripening of the crop and the harvest season.
Lohri marks the traditional welcome of longer days and the Sun's journey to the northern hemisphere, [4] which started on December 21/ 22 of the previous calendar year, but on Lohri day is felt significantly stronger. It marks the softening of winter.
Lohri symbolises fertility and is considered auspicious especially for newlywed couples and parents of newborn babies, for whom it is `पहली लोहड़ी है’ (Pahli Lohri hai, first Lohri).
A story related to Lohri, can be traced back to the tales of Dulla Bhatti, a third generation rebel against Akbar. Bhatti’s are fierce Rajputs, practising Hindu, Sikh and Muslim religion. Rai Abdullah Bhatti widely known as Dulla [5] Bhatti rescued poor Punjabi girls, who were forcibly sold in the slave market. The heroic deeds of Dulla Bhatti are widely recounted in folklore, but lesser in `recorded history’. His valour is reflected in the most popular song `सुंदर मुंदरिए – हो’ (Sunder mundriye- ho) as `दुल्ला भट्टी वाला-हो’ (Dulla Bhatti wala-ho).
There is a mythological story, according to which King Kans, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna, sends Lohitha, a demon, to kill Lord Krishna. However, Lord Krishna ends up killing demon Lohitha, so the celebration.
Til and Gur Preparations
Til (sesame) seeds according to texts on Ayurveda are known for their ability to generate heat and energy in the body, for beauty, and benefits to the hair. Til seeds are full of nutrition, making it a special food for winters.
Pic Lohri02 Til (Sesame) plant
To keep warm and healthy, til and gur preparations are made and consumed around/ on Lohri. These include Gajak, Moongphali (groundnut) Patti (mainly of moongphali and gur, but also other ingredients like roasted chana dal), Phule (popcorn), मुरमुरा (puffed rice), and रेवड़ी (Revri).
PicLohri 03 Til (Sesame) Laddoo
PicLohri 04 Gajak -cylindrical
Gajak and Revri are a non-milk based dry sweet prepared through a slow, labour intensive process, from til (sesame seeds) and gur, in different shapes. The ingredients include different proportions of the sweetener (gur and/ or sugar). At times til seeds are replaced/ blended with other seeds (groundnut), pulses (mainly chana dal) [6] and grains (puffed rice called murmura). Dry fruits in gajak, form part of upmarket preparations. Gajak comes in small rectangular, flat, round, and cylindrical, shapes.
Each product (gajak and revri) has variants and have important towns preparing it on a large scale. Some of the major centres for production are Bharatpur (in Rajasthan), Lucknow and Meerut (in Uttar Pradesh) and Morena (in Madhya Pradesh).
A suggestion to readers/ others is to drive down to the closest town and purchase the products, to taste an unadulterated and original form.
Morena Gajak in 2022-23 received GI tagging. [7] There is news of Meerut Gajak and Revri also receiving a GI tagging, which needs to be confirmed.
PicLohri 05 Moongphali (Groundnut) Patti
Moongphali (groundnut) Patti is another non-milk based dry sweet that is prepared/ eaten during lohri and in the winter months. Moongphali patti is different in form, preparation, texture and taste, from Chikki, which has Lonavala, (Pune, Maharashta) as the main centre.
PicLohri 06 Roasting of Phule (pop corn)
Roasting of Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) is done in a large कड़ाही (Cauldron), filled with sand, and lit with wood fire. The warm and freshly roasted Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) taste different, and have an aroma of sand and wood fire in them.
Lohri Celebrations
Lohri is the celebration of growing/ ripening of crop and related ceremonies, where farmers pay tribute to सूर्य देव (Surya Dev, Sun God). It is celebrated to recognise the hard work of farmers, the end of winter, and the arrival of a warmer season. Flames of bonfire lit on Lohri, carry messages and prayers to Surya Dev (Sun God) to bring warmth to earth, to help crops grow/ ripen.
Village folk celebrate around large common fires, enjoying the warmth of burning logs of wood, with participation from all sections/ classes of society. The fire is lit by adding groundnut, (and products made from the them), gajak, patti, popcorn, revri, and til laddoo, as offering, followed by dancing and singing around the fire. People exchange with relatives and friends, a mixture of til and gur products, groundnut and popcorn.
People wear bright and colourful clothes, and dance to the dhol in traditional bhangra and gidda dances, and celebrate Lohri.
Food preparations
Once the fire dies out, dinner includes favourite dishes like makki di roti te sarson da saag (pancakes made of stone ground corn flour and mustard/ spinach dishes with freshly churned white butter) and lassi (buttermilk). Makki di roti te sarson da saag is widely consumed in the region during the winter months.
A special kheer called `Rauh di kheer’ is cooked in sugarcane juice much before the lighting of the fire, and served cold after dinner.
Other food preparations are some/ all of the traditional Punjabi dishes gajar ka halwa, gondh ke laddoo, gur ki roti, laddoo, makhane ki kheer, panjiri, pinni, til ki barfi and til ke laddoo.
The most popular song on lohri, sung from a few days before, while seeking donations for celebrating lohri is Sunder mundriye ho!. Children go from house to house, demanding Lohri (as gifts or cash), singing traditional folk songs. The children are sent off with Lohri delicacies.
The morning following Lohri is Makar Sankranti, and is an auspicious occasion for ritual bathing in rivers and ponds.
सुंदर मुंदरिए–हो
सुंदर मुंदरिए-हो
तेरा कौन विचारा-हो
दुल्ला भट्टी वाला-हो
दुल्ले ने धी ब्याही-हो
सेर शक्कर पाई-हो
कुडी दे बोझे पाई-हो
कुड़ी दा लाल पटाका-हो
कुड़ी दा शालू पाटा-हो
शालू कौन समेटे-हो
चाचा गाली देसे-हो
चाचे चूरी कुट्टी-हो
जिमींदारां लुट्टी-हो
जिमींदारा सदाए-हो
गिन-गिन पोले लाए-हो
बड़े पोले आये हो
इक पोला घिस गया हो
जिमींदार वोट्टी लै के नस्स गया हो
Sunder mundriye-ho
Sundar mundriye-hoTera kaun vicharaa-ho
Dulla bhatti wala-ho
Dulle ne dhee vyayae-ho
Ser shakkar payee-ho
Kudi de bojhe paai-ho
Kudi da laal pathaka-ho
Kudi da shaalu paatta-ho
Shaalu kaun samete-ho
Chacha gaali desa-ho
Chache choori kutti-ho
Zimindara lutti-ho
Zimindaar sadhaye-ho
Gin-gin pole laaye-ho
Bade pole aaye-ho
Ek pola ghis gaya-ho
Zimindaar votti leke nass gaya-ho
[1] Author, Economics, Law, Consumer Issues, Content Creator, Data Analysist, Performance Evaluator. Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
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can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The five rivers from south to north are Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. These five rivers are tributaries of River Indus.
[3] A list of festivals and celebrations for four days of Makar Sankranti is part of the forthcoming articles entitled on Makar Sankranti/ Lohri/ Bhogi on January 14, 2026’, being shared on January 14, 2026, and will be available on the link https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site . The article entitled `Makar Sankranti/ Lohri/ Bhogi January 14, 2025’, for 2025 is available at https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/मकर-संक्रांति-makar-sankrantijanuary-14-2025-rohit-kumar-parmar
[4] The earth revolves around the Sun, which is static compared to Earth. However, due to the axial tilt of the earth, during the six months commencing December 21 or 22, the Sun/ shine becomes stronger in the northern hemisphere, so the metaphor that Sun moves to the northern hemisphere.
[5] Dulla sounds like the word `Dulah (दुलाह)’ meaning bridegroom. However, Dulla here refers to an abridged (Ab) Dulla.
[6] Chana Dal or Bengal Gram is de-shelled, split and washed Chick Peas.
[7] A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are associated to that origin.
GI tags are issued under the Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which facilitates the registration and protection of Geographical Indications relating to goods in India. The Act is administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
The Geographical Indications Registry is located at Chennai.
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