Celebrate Lohri in 2024: Revealing its Rituals, and Significance in India

It’s time to celebrate the festival that is as vibrant as the flames themselves, bringing families and communities together to celebrate the harvest season and offer gratitude for the bountiful crops.

Lohri is one of the widely celebrated festivals across the Northern India States like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir.

While it’s often associated with Sikh communities, its roots reach beyond any single faith. Following the ancient Bikrami calendar, which is a blend of lunar and solar cycles, Lohri’s date lands close to the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti.

Also known as Lohadi or Lal Loi, it is celebrated to mark the harvest of the rabi crops and the end of the winter solstice, meaning, the onset of longer days and shorter nights.

As everyone awaits to celebrate Lohri in 2024 with much zeal and enthusiasm, read on to discover the date, time, rituals, and the significance it holds in India.

When is Lohri 2024: On the 13th or 14th of January?

This year, there appears to be some discord over the exact date for Lohri, with debate raging over whether it should be marked on January 13 or 14.

Following Drik Panchang, Lohri will be celebrated on January 14, 2024, i.e. Sunday, implying that Makar Sankranti, a similar holiday, will be celebrated on Monday, January 15, 2024.

What is the Auspicious Time for Puja?

The religious ceremony timings for this year’s Lohri festival in 2024, according to Drik Panchang, are as follows:

Tritiya Tithi: up to 07:59 AM, January 14
Chaturthi Tithi: up to 04:59 AM, January 15
Brahma Muhurta: 05:27 AM to 06:21 AM
Abhijit Muhurta: 12:09 PM to 12:51 PM

Significance: Why Lohri is Celebrated?

Holding great significance in the lives of the people of North India, Lohri marks the successful harvest of winter crops like sugarcane, wheat, and mustard. It is a time for farmers to express gratitude to the Surya Devta (Sun God) and Agni (Fire God) for agricultural prosperity and ample harvesting of crops seeded before the winter season.
Additionally, as Lohri falls on the 13th to 14th of January every year, it also signifies the end of the winter solstice, which is when the days begin to get longer. This change is celebrated as a herald of warmth and happiness.

Rituals: How is Lohri celebrated?

Lohri, a vibrant festival that fosters a sense of togetherness, gratitude, and unity among people, is celebrated with several rituals adding to the festive spirit and cultural significance of the occasion.

Lohri begins with the lighting of a bonfire, symbolising the end of winter and the arrival of warmer days, where people offer items like peanuts, jaggery, sesame seeds, and popcorn to the fire while reciting prayers. These offerings, often known as prasad, are distributed among attendees for good luck.

During the celebration of the festival, people engage in music and dance, such as the traditional Punjabi dances of Bhangra and Gidda, singing folk music while wearing festive attire and enjoying traditional dishes like sarson da saag, makki ki roti, gajak and rewar.

Hence, Lohri provides an opportunity for social bonding with family and community members, which fosters a sense of unity and festivity, making it one of the most cherished festivals in India.

Wishing all our readers a very Happy Lohri 2024. May this Lohri bring you abundance, good fortune, and cherished moments with your loved ones!

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