Agni & Surya
Lohri
A bonfire against the deepest cold — song, sesame, and the sun turning home.
Tithi: The eve of Makar Sankranti — the last night of Paush.
In the simplest words
Punjab's bonfire night: everyone circles the fire, throws in popcorn, peanuts and rewri, sings Dulla Bhatti's song, and welcomes the sun's return.
The story & purpose
On the coldest night of the Punjabi year, families circle a bonfire and offer it til, gur, rewri, and popcorn — giving the year's first harvest back to Agni. The fire is both hearth and altar: the winter's darkness is sung out, and the sun is welcomed north.
The songs remember Dulla Bhatti, the Punjabi hero who rescued girls from being sold and married them off with his own dowry — 'Sundar mundriye, ho!' Every Lohri still sings his name.
What is done
The bonfire
Lit after sunset; the family circles it, offering til, gur, rewri, peanuts, and popcorn.
First Lohri
A new bride's or newborn's first Lohri is kept with special songs and gifts.
Boliyan & bhangra
Folk verses traded around the fire, dhol, giddha and bhangra late into the night.
Best timings
The fire is lit after sunset; the offerings go in while the flames are high.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition — for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Sindhi families keep the same night as Lal Loi.
Til and rorhi are said to give the festival its name — tilorhi, softened to Lohri.
In the days before, children go door to door singing the Lohri songs and collecting 'lohri' — sweets, peanuts, and wood for the fire.
Mantras of this festival
Note: Lohri is by custom 13 January; in years when Sankranti shifts to the 15th (like 2027), some observe it on the 14th as Sankranti-eve.