Lohri is basically an agricultural festival which is abundantly filled with merry-making. This festival is organised in the Indian state of Punjab on the 13th day of the month of January, which is a day before the famous Makar Sankranti. The festival of Lohri is chiefly a festival of Punjab. However, it is also celebrated in several parts of Northern India as well. Delhi, which has a majority of Punjbai population, this festival is celebrated here to mark the last coldest day of winter. In the month of January, Punjab along with some of the other north Indian states experience severe cold. It is observed that after the festival of Lohri, the atmospheric temperature starts to rise.

At the day time, children visit one house to another, singing songs in honour of Dulha Bhatti, which is famous as the Punjabi version of Robin Hood, a stealer who robs the rich and helps the poor and stands for their causes. The children singing songs are offered sweets and savories, and at times, money. These items which the children get are called Lohri, which are largely distributed at night during the festival. Some of the items are also offered to the fire which is considered sacred. This popular festival is celebrated outdoors. Since it is generally very cold during the 13th of January, a bonfire is ignited, and relatives and friends gather around to take part in the celebration. In case there is a happy occasion in any family, like marriage or the birth of a child, then that year Lohri is celebrated with lots of pump and glory. The family thus hosts a party to observe the first Lohri of the couple or the new born baby. The celebration of this festival is accompanied by singing and dancing, which are the most vital aspects of Lohri. People take part in it wearing their brightest of the clothes and dance the gidda and bhangra to every beat of the dhol. Every one rejoices with the singing of Punjabi songs.

The major food preparations at the time of Lohri festival are makki ki roti and sarson ka saag. These dishes are generally served at a Lohri dinner. Festival of Lohri is an occasion which unites the whole village and every one take part in it like one big happy family, in Punjab. One will get to see a bonfire which is lit in the main village square, and after danced and sang for quite some time, everyone get down to have a grand community dinner. This period in Punjab is the period of rest for the farmers since the fresh Wheat crop has started to grow.

People offer a prayer to Agni, who is regarded as the god of Fire, and Prasad or bhog is distributed among all. The prasad constitutes five major things, which are gazak, til, gur, moongphali or peanuts and popcorn or phuliya. There is also an offering of this prasad or bhog to the sacred fire. The festival of Lohri is organized in all parts of the country, although in different forms, as a harvest festival. This festival is known as Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Pongal in the South, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and Sankranti in India’s central parts. The way of celebration of this festival is also different in different pats of the country, but it conveys a single message of shedding of differences and cheer-up by observing the harvest season’s end and the chilly winter.