What, Where, and When is Lohri 2024?

Lohri is celebrated at the end of every winter season to mark the onset of the harvest season. It is especially famous in the farmer community because farmers ask for abundant blessings through a bonfire ritual. The bonfire begins after sunset since it is the longest night of the year. Lohri is a prayer of gratitude for the bountiful harvest. Circling the bonfire people offer snacks to the Agni Devta, i.e., gur, rewri, popcorn, peanuts, til, gajak, and jaggery.

This year, in 2024, it will be celebrated on January 14th, 2024. Lohri is also known as Lal Loi. All devotees gather around and exchange gur, rewri, popcorn, peanuts, til, gajak, and jaggery with each other as a sign of happiness and with an abundance of sharing. Lohri is mostly celebrated in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Historical Significance of Lohri 2024

Besides signifying the beginning of the harvest season and celebrating the longest night of the year, Lohri also has a keen historical significance. The bonfire is a tribute to the God of Fire (Agni Devta) and the Sun God (Surya Devta). Lohri is a prayer to the gods for a bountiful harvest and an abundance of joy. Gur, rewri, popcorn, peanuts, til, gajak, and jaggery are all offered gratefully to the bonfire.

Historically, during the Mughal era, a centralized land revenue system was applied. Many people were upset with this rule and rebelled against it. However, fighting against this rule meant execution. Quite a lot of people lost their lives either because of the application of this rule or fighting against it. One of them was Dulla Bhatti’s father.

Dulla Bhatti is remembered as a hero for the way he saved so many women from being trafficked to traders in the Middle East. Further, he also stole from the rich and distributed it among the poor, becoming a Robin for those in need. Though he was later executed, Bhatti is still remembered as a hero in the folk songs of Punjab. Lohri is a prayer of gratitude for Bhatti’s efforts.

Folk Song of Dulla Bhatti

Sunder mundriye ho!

Tera kaun vicharaa ho!

Dullah Bhatti walla ho!

Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!

Ser shakkar payee ho!

Kudi da laal pathaka ho!

Kudi da saalu paata ho!

Salu kaun samete!

Chacha gali dese!

Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti!

Zamindaar sudhaye!

Bum Bum bhole aaye!

Ek bhola reh gaya!

Sipahee far ke lai gaya!

Sipahee ne mari itt!

Paanvey ro te paanvey pitt!

Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jodi!

(Laugh, cry or howl!)

Translation

Beautiful girl

Who will think about you

Dulla of the Bhatti clan will

Dulla's daughter got married

He gave me a few grams of sugar!

The girl is wearing a red suit!

But her shawl is torn!

Who will stitch her shawl?!

The uncle made choori!

The landlords looted it!

Landlords are beaten up!

Lots of simple-headed boys came!

One simpleton got left behind!

The soldier arrested him!

The soldier hit him with a brick!

(Cry or howl)!

Give us Lohri, long live your pair (to a married couple)!

Whether you cry or bang your head later

Astrological Significance of Lohri 2024

Lohri is the Hindu Solstice festival. Since Earth is closest to the Sun during this time of the year, the flaming bonfire of Lohri is symbolic of organizing all things in preparation for the coming year. The day after Lohri is the day of Makar Sankranti when the Sun enters the zodiac Capricorn. Thus, Lohri occurs a day before Makar Sankranti every year in the month of Paush (January/December).

The Story of Lohri & Holika

According to Hindu mythology, Holika, who was a demoness, and Lohri were sisters. Holika was following a command by Hiranyaksha, who was an oppressive demigod. She lured Prahlada who was the son of Hiranyaksha and Lohri to sit in a fire. Out of the three of them, Holika succumbed to the fire but Lohri and Prahlad made it through.

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