Lohri 2023: Date, puja, timings, significance, here's all you need to know

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Lohri is celebrated in North India as a popular harvest festival of farmers. This festival symbolises the ripening of winter crops as well as the start of a new harvesting season.

The auspicious festival of Lohri is widely celebrated by the people of Haryana and Punjab, particularly by the Hindu and Sikh communities. Lohri, which also goes by the names Lohadi and Lal Loi, falls a day before Makar Sankranti. This year Lohri will be observed on Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Lohri is celebrated by lighting bonfires and dancing to folklores and exchanging gifts among family and friends. On this day, people perform Parikrama around the bonfire while offering sesame seeds, jaggery, gajak, rewdi, and peanuts.

Lohri 2023: Date and puja timings

Many people are confused as to whether it falls on January 13 or 14. The celebration of Lohri will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023, according to Drik Panchang. Makar Sankranti will therefore fall on January 15, 2023, Sunday. In addition, the Brahma Muhurta will last from 5.27 to 6.21 am and the Lohri Sankranti tithi will be at 8.57 pm.

Also Read: Lohri 2023: Who was Dulla Bhatti and how's he related to Lohri, all you need to know about him

Lohri 2023: History

The legend of Dulla Bhatti, who had lived in Punjab during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, is the most well-known folklore connected to Lohri. He used to plunder the wealthy and aid the poor and those in need. Historiographers claim that he once saved a child from kidnappers and raised her as his own daughter. He even carried out the ceremonies without a priest on the day of her wedding. People began to sing the traditional song 'Sundar Mundriye' at Lohri every year because they loved and admired him.

Lohri 2023: Significance

People light a bonfire and celebrate around it on the special occasion of Lohri. Surya (Sun god) is worshipped on this occasion. It is believed that on this day the flames of the bonfire carry the prayers of the people to the Sun God who will bless the earth with a successful harvest and also end the cold and harsh winter days.

The occasion is considered to be auspicious for to-be-parents and newly married couples. After lighting the bonfire, people sing and dance to traditional folk songs and worship Surya.