Lohri 2026 Date When Is This Auspicious Festival Know All Details Here

Lohri is one of the first major festivals to be celebrated in the new calendar year, especially in Punjab, Haryana and parts of North India. It marks the end of peak winter and the beginning of longer, brighter days. Families gather around a sacred bonfire, offer traditional foods and celebrate the harvest with music and dance.

The term “Lohri” is commonly linked to “Tilohri” with til (sesame) and rorhi/rohri (jaggery). Sesame and jaggery are considered warming and purifying foods that boost energy during the cold season. Offering them to the fire symbolises gratitude to nature and a prayer for health and abundance in the months ahead.

When is Lohri in 2026

According to the Hindu panchang, Lohri is celebrated one day before Makar Sankranti, based on the solar calendar. In 2026:

• Lohri date Tuesday, 13 January 2026
• The next day, 14 January, is observed as Makar Sankranti / Maghi.

In most regions and standard panchang references, Lohri for 2026 is clearly placed on the evening of 13 January, when bonfires are lit and community celebrations take place.

Link between Lohri and Makar Sankranti

Lohri is closely connected with the Sun’s northward movement or Uttarayana. From this period onwards, days gradually become longer and warmer. So Lohri is not only a harvest festival but also a symbolic farewell to the darkest winter days and a welcome to increasing light.

Makar Sankranti, observed the day after Lohri, marks the Sun’s entry into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). Across India, this day is celebrated with river bathing, charity, kite flying and consumption of sesame-jaggery preparations. Lohri, then, is like the warm, communal prelude to the pan-Indian Sankranti celebrations.

Significance of the Lohri bonfire

The central element of Lohri is the bonfire, representing Lord Agni, the fire deity. In the evening, families and neighbours gather around the fire and offer:

• Sesame seeds (til)
• Jaggery and gachak
• Peanuts and popcorn
• Rewri and other sweets

As these are offered, people chant traditional lines and circle the fire. Symbolically, the flames carry their prayers and messages to the Sun, asking for warmth, good crops and the removal of gloom and stagnation. The diminishing cold and the glowing embers together speak of endings and new beginnings.

Many customs also see the bonfire as a purifier that burns away negativity, laziness and heaviness. This is why the first Lohri after marriage or after a child’s birth is considered especially auspicious and is celebrated with extra joy and blessings.

Folk customs, songs and celebrations

Lohri is as much a cultural festival as a religious one. Traditionally:

• Groups of youngsters go around the neighbourhood in the days leading up to Lohri, collecting firewood, grains, sweets and small contributions.
• On Lohri evening, these gathered logs are used to build the bonfire and everyone assembles in colourful attire.
• People sing folk songs, especially about characters like Dulla Bhatti and dance bhangra and giddha around the flames.

After the offerings, families exchange greetings like “Lohri di lakh-lakh vadhaiyan,” distribute rewri, peanuts and til sweets and then enjoy a special dinner featuring makki di roti, sarson da saag and lassi or buttermilk.

Special significance for newlyweds and newborns

In many Punjabi and North Indian families, the first Lohri after a wedding or the birth of a baby is celebrated in a special way:

• For newlyweds, it symbolises blessings for a harmonious married life and the joining of two families.
• For a newborn, it is a way of welcoming the child into the community and praying for health, prosperity and protection.

Relatives and friends bring gifts, sweets and good wishes, making the festival not just seasonal but deeply personal and memorable.

Frequently asked questions

1. On what exact date will Lohri be celebrated in 2026
Lohri in 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, in the evening. It falls one day before Makar Sankranti, which will be observed on 14 January.

2. Is Lohri only a Punjabi or Sikh festival
While Lohri has strong roots in Punjabi and Sikh culture, it is also celebrated by many Hindus in North India. Over time, people from various regions and communities across India and abroad have joined in the celebrations.

3. Why is sesame and jaggery so important on Lohri
Sesame and jaggery are traditional winter foods believed to generate warmth and cleanse the system. Offering them to the fire expresses gratitude for seasonal crops and symbolically asks for health, strength and vitality.

4. How is Lohri different from Makar Sankranti
Lohri is largely a community bonfire and harvest celebration held on the evening before Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti itself is more focused on the Sun’s transition, holy baths, charity and region-specific customs like kite flying and preparing special dishes.

5. Are there any special charitable or auspicious acts recommended on Lohri
Many people choose to share warmth and food on Lohri by giving blankets, clothes, sweets or grains to those in need. For families with a new marriage or baby, offering food, doing simple charity and seeking elders’ blessings is considered especially auspicious.