One of North India's most vibrant and eagerly awaited festivals, Lohri, is just around the corner. Celebrated with immense joy and traditional fervor, this festival heralds the end of the chilly winter season and welcomes the longer, warmer days of spring. In 2026, the main Lohri celebrations will be held on January 13, with the Lohri Sankranti moment occurring at 3:13 PM on January 14, as per Drik Panchang.
Lohri 2026: Date and Regional Celebrations
The festival of Lohri will be observed tomorrow, on January 13, 2026. The heart of the celebration, featuring the iconic bonfire, singing, and dancing, takes place on the evening of January 13. While it is a major Hindu festival, its spirit resonates deeply across North India. The states of Punjab and Haryana witness particularly grand festivities, filled with fanfare. The joy also spreads to several regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, where communities come together with equal enthusiasm.
At its core, Lohri is a harvest festival, primarily honoring the successful reaping of the Rabi crop. It is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti, marking a significant period in the agricultural calendar. The festival is not only about agrarian gratitude but also carries profound cultural and historical weight.
The Significance and Story Behind Lohri
The significance of Lohri is twofold. It is a thanksgiving ceremony for a bountiful harvest and a symbolic farewell to winter. Beyond this, the festival holds a special place in remembering the legendary folk hero, Dulla Bhatti. According to popular folklore set during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Dulla Bhatti was a rebellious figure in Punjab known for his bravery.
He is famously celebrated for rescuing young girls from being taken as slaves and arranging their marriages, providing them with dignity and safety. The most famous of these tales involve two girls named Sundri and Mundri. Lohri serves as an annual tribute to Dulla Bhatti's righteous exploits, with his story forming the central theme of the traditional songs sung around the bonfire.
Celebrations and the Iconic Lohri Folk Song
Traditional Lohri celebrations are a community-centric affair. People gather around a large bonfire, throw offerings like popcorn, peanuts, and rewari into the flames, and perform joyful dances like Bhangra and Gidda. The atmosphere is filled with the rhythmic beats of the dhol and the singing of folk songs.
The most quintessential of these songs is the one dedicated to Dulla Bhatti. The lyrics, passed down through generations, narrate his story and express gratitude. A segment of the popular folk song goes:
Sunder mundriye Hoo, Tera kaun vicaharaa Hoo..!! Dullah Bhatti walla Hoo, Dullhe di dhee vyayae Hoo..!! Ser shakkar payee Hoo, Kudi da laal pathaka Hoo..!!
The festivities also involve prayers and Ardas in Gurudwaras, paying homage to the martyrdom of the Chali Mukte (the Forty Liberated Ones), further deepening the festival's historical and spiritual resonance.
As communities prepare for the bonfire on January 13, 2026, the essence of Lohri remains a powerful blend of nature's rhythm, agricultural prosperity, and the enduring celebration of heroism and communal harmony.
