When is Lohri 2024? Date, History, Significance, Story and all you need to know

Lohri is a festival celebrated by Hindus all around the world. For people, it is filled with fun, eating, singing traditional songs and sitting by the fire. It is primarily celebrated in the northern regions of India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and some parts of Himachal Pradesh. It generally marks the end of winter solstice in India and is celebrated with enthusiasm.This festival is very close to the hearts of people and is a day of warmth and harvest.
When will Lohri be celebrated in 2024?
This year, there has been confusion regarding the exact date of Lohri. Devotees are confused between 13 January and 14 January, as to when the celebration will take place. But, according to different experts and the ‘Drik Panchang’, the festival is to be celebrated on 14 January.
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According to ‘Drik Panchang’, this year Lohri will be celebrated on -
Tritiya tithi upto 07:59 AM, January 14
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Chaturthi tithi upto 04:59 AM, January 15
Brahma Muhurta: 05:27 AM to 06:21 AM
Abhijit Muhurta: 12:09 PM to 12:51 PM
History and significance
The origins of Lohri can be found both in ancient folklore and family traditions. The festival's name 'Lohri' has come from the word ‘loh’ which is a thick iron sheet tandoor used for cooking and warmth during the winter season.
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Lohri also holds historical and religious significance for some believe it celebrates the onset of longer days after the winter solstice, and represents the end of the cold, chilly winter season and the beginning of longer and sunny days. For many, Lohri celebrates the harvest season's start. It is celebrated to express gratitude to nature for a good crop harvest that sustains people and for seeking blessings for a happier and more prosperous future and produce in the coming years.

The story of the Lohri festival
The festival of Lohri is associated with various legends. The most prominent and famous one is the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi hero known for his acts of bravery and generosity. During Akbar's rule, Bhatti rescued young girls from being sold into slavery and arranged their marriages by acting as their guardian. People sing songs in praise of Dulla Bhatti and thank him for his strength and actions during Lohri celebrations.
It is also said that the first Lohri of a new bride and a new baby is very important and precious. As Lohri is a celebration of fertility and harvest, the new bride is blessed with good health and the boon to have a healthy baby in the future on that day and the new baby is blessed with a prosperous and abundant life.
How is Lohri celebrated
Lohri is celebrated with much enthusiasm and a jolly mood can be seen in people. It is no less than a festival with bonfires and families coming together to celebrate. Bonfires are the centerpiece of the festival and families and communities gather around the bonfire, offering peanuts, popcorn, rewari and sesame seeds to the fire as a mark of gratitude and prayers for abundance. The traditional ‘Prasad’ is distributed among everyone present over there and the festival marks unity among people and prosperity to everyone.
People engage in energetic and lively folk dances, such as Bhangra and Gidda, and show their joy and enthusiasm around the festival. The beats and energy of the dhol can be heard throughout the blocks where Lohri is being celebrated and men and women clad in colourful attire dance with zest, infusing the atmosphere with a bright, lively energy.
Special dishes are also prepared on the Lohri day. Dishes like sarson da saag and makki ki roti, along with gajak and rewaris for sweets are eaten. In traditional settings, children often go from door to door, singing folk songs and collecting these sweets and popcorn as part of the festive traditions.
Celebrations today
In present times while the enthusiasm around the festival has not mellowed down some of the festivities have. The groups are now shorter and the fire in which rewaris and popcorns are thrown are smaller.But, even today, Lohri is a symbol of cultural unity and diversity and is celebrated by people of different backgrounds.
In fact, some people now organise large scale concert-like festivals where people come together and rejoice in the festive spirit. Lohri parties and community events host people of all ages who come together to celebrate the spirit of the festival.