Lohri 2026: Date, Significance, Rituals, Traditional Food and Wishes Explained

Lohri is a vibrant and culturally significant festival that marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest period. Celebrated mainly by Sikh communities and widely observed in Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Lohri is associated with agricultural prosperity, family traditions and ancient folklore.

2026, Lohri will be observed in mid-January, bringing warmth and joy to the cold season. According to the Druk Panchang, Lohri will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, while Makar Sankranti will fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The festival is marked by bonfires, rituals, folk music, traditional food and heartfelt wishes shared among families and friends.

Key Takeaways on Lohri 2026

• Lohri 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13
• According to Druk Panchang, Lohri Sankranti time is 03:13 pm on January 14
• Makar Sankranti will be observed on Wednesday, January 14, 2026
• The festival marks the end of winter solstice and harvesting of Rabi crops
• Lohri is celebrated with bonfires, rituals, folk dances and seasonal foods
• Prayers are offered to Agni and Surya Devta for a prosperous harvest
• Traditional dishes like sarson da saag, makki di roti, gajak and rewari are central to celebrations

When Is Lohri 2026? Date and Auspicious Timings

According to the Druk Panchang, Lohri will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The festival is observed a day before Makar Sankranti every year.

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The auspicious time for Lohri Sankranti will be 03:13 pm on January 14. Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Lohri is traditionally marked in the evening with the lighting of bonfires, symbolising warmth, light and renewal.

Cultural and Agricultural Significance of Lohri

Lohri is a colourful and joyful festival that signifies the end of the harsh winter season and the arrival of longer days. It is mainly celebrated by Sikhs and holds tremendous importance for farming communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. The festival marks the harvesting of Rabi crops and observes agricultural prosperity.

Rooted in ancient folklore and family traditions passed down through generations, Lohri also symbolises the worship of fire. Over time, it has come to represent warmth, positivity, renewal and hope. The festival welcomes the gradual retreat of winter and the beginning of a fruitful season ahead.

Lohri Festival AI Image Prompts (Copy–Paste Ready)

Set 1: Traditional Lohri Celebration Prompts

1. Traditional Punjabi Lohri celebration in India, large group of men and women wearing authentic Punjabi attire like bright salwar kameez, phulkari dupattas, pagris, standing in a circle around a tall bonfire made of wooden logs, sugarcane sticks and popcorn visible, warm golden firelight, rural Punjabi village background, winter evening, ultra-realistic, 4K
2. Authentic Indian Lohri festival scene, family offering til, gur, peanuts into glowing bonfire, hands mid-motion, sparks and embers flying, emotional expressions, realistic lighting, cinematic look
3. Punjabi women performing Giddha near Lohri bonfire, flowing salwar kameez, joyful smiles, rhythmic clapping, warm fire glow, night celebration, high realism
4. Punjabi men performing energetic Bhangra during Lohri, colorful pagris, kurta pajama, dynamic movement, bonfire in background, realistic motion blur
5. Nighttime Lohri bonfire celebration, tall flames lighting smiling faces, sparks against deep blue winter sky, cinematic depth
6. Close-up Lohri ritual, hands tossing rewri and popcorn into fire, shallow depth of field, ultra-detailed fire textures
7. Outdoor Lohri night celebration, village homes softly lit in background, people clapping and singing, smoke drifting naturally, warm cultural mood
8. Cultural Lohri festival image, traditional Punjabi courtyard decorated with fairy lights, bonfire in center, handmade mats on ground, brass utensils nearby, warm festive tones
9. Indian village Lohri gathering, people singing folk songs, dhol resting beside bonfire, natural candid moments, unposed expressions, ultra-realistic color grading
10. Realistic Lohri celebration in Punjab, family offering til, gur, and popcorn into the fire, hands mid-motion, glowing embers and sparks, emotional expressions, cozy winter clothing, natural shadows, high-detail festival photography

Set 2: Social Media and Profile Image Prompts

11. Lohri social media post image, Punjabi woman in traditional dress standing near bonfire, soft background blur, warm festive lighting, Instagram-ready realism
12. Lohri profile picture, close-up portrait with subtle fire glow, clean background, natural skin texture, premium festive look
13. Modern Lohri social media image, traditional Punjabi outfit with contemporary styling, fairy lights, realistic colors
14. Festive Lohri Instagram banner, balanced composition with bonfire and cultural elements, sharp details, high realism
15. Minimal Lohri portrait for social media, warm tones, soft firelight, clean composition
16. Classic Lohri social media image, Punjabi child tossing popcorn into bonfire, joyful expression, night celebration, ultra-realistic lighting
17. Family selfie-style Lohri photo, bonfire behind, traditional clothing, warm ambient glow, cinematic depth
18. Close-up social media shot, til and gur in hands, firelight reflecting on faces, Indian winter evening
19. Instagram-ready Lohri video still, people dancing Bhangra around fire, sparks mid-air, realistic night atmosphere
20. Digital artwork for social media, glowing bonfire in center, festive decorations, soft blurred background, traditional colors

Set 3: Posters, Greeting Cards and Festive Artwork Prompts

21. AI prompt for Lohri poster, traditional Punjabi festival design with a large glowing bonfire at the center, sugarcane sticks, wheat crops, dhol, and peanuts arranged neatly, warm orange and golden color palette, subtle Punjabi folk patterns in background, clean space for text, realistic fire textures, print-ready resolution
22. Lohri greeting card design, cozy winter evening scene with a small bonfire, clay lamps placed around, til and gur visible in foreground, soft fire glow, elegant Indian motifs, minimal yet festive layout, premium realistic look
23. Professional Lohri festival poster, bold Punjabi typography space, detailed bonfire flames, village background silhouettes, visible sparks and smoke, high contrast lighting, realistic Indian festival atmosphere
24. Minimal Lohri greeting card, close-up of glowing bonfire embers, warm golden tones, traditional Indian patterns on borders, simple and classy festive design, realistic textures
25. High-resolution Lohri poster, Punjabi rural setting with wheat fields, bonfire lighting the scene, sugarcane and dhol placed naturally, cinematic realism, print-quality details
26. Elegant Lohri greeting card artwork, soft gradient background, glowing fire in center, Punjabi cultural symbols subtly blended, calm festive mood, realistic lighting
27. Traditional Indian Lohri poster, handcrafted look with folk art influence, realistic fire and smoke, authentic Punjabi color scheme, suitable for festival banners and flyers
28. Modern Lohri greeting card, clean layout, realistic bonfire glow, subtle fairy lights, cultural elements kept minimal, premium festive aesthetic
29. Vertical festival poster, strong central bonfire focus, warm tones, realistic Indian winter night look, suitable for social sharing
30. Classic Lohri greeting card design, Indian cultural warmth, soft firelight, traditional items like peanuts and popcorn, refined and realistic festive feel

Rituals and Bonfire Celebrations

Bonfires form the heart of Lohri celebrations. These are generally lit in open spaces or outside homes and are traditionally made using wood and cow dung. Families and communities gather around the bonfire in the evening to perform sacred rituals.

As part of the ceremony, devotees perform parikrama, circling the bonfire and offering items such as:

• Sesame seeds
• Jaggery
• Gajak
• Rewari
• Peanuts

These offerings are made while seeking blessings from Agni, the fire god, and Surya Devta, the sun god, for prosperity and a bountiful harvest. People sing traditional songs, dance to lively dhol beats and share festive treats, embracing the warmth and joy of the occasion.

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Traditional Lohri Ki Thali and Festive Foods

Food plays a central role in Lohri celebrations, with a special festive plate known as Lohri ki thali. The thali includes classic Punjabi dishes prepared to suit the winter season.

Sarson Da Saag and Makki Di Roti

One of the most iconic combinations is sarson da saag and makki di roti. The saag is slow-cooked using mustard greens, spinach, methi and bathua, and is topped with ghee or butter. Makki di roti is rustic, filling and ideal for cold winter nights.

Sweets and Crunchy Treats

Seasonal sweets are an essential part of Lohri celebrations:

• Gajak and Rewari: Crisp sesame and jaggery-based sweets
• Peanut chikki: Jaggery-sweetened nut bars
• Til ke laddoo: Sesame seed balls known for warmth in winter
• Panjiri: A hearty mix of wheat flour, ghee and dry fruits

Savoury and Cooling Dishes

To balance the festive spread, Lohri ki thali also includes:

• Dahi bhalle: Lentil dumplings soaked in yoghurt and spices
• Aloo gobhi: Potato and cauliflower curry
• Gur wale chawal: Rice cooked with jaggery and milk, lightly spiced

Lohri Wishes, Messages and Greetings

Lohri is also a time to share warm wishes, messages and greetings with family and friends. People exchange heartfelt messages expressing happiness, prosperity and success. Wishes often reflect themes of warmth, growth, abundance and the joy of togetherness.

Common Lohri greetings include wishes for a joyful festival, the burning away of worries, success in life, and a fruitful year ahead. These messages are widely shared among loved ones as part of the celebrations.

Why Lohri Holds Enduring Importance

Lohri continues to hold deep cultural relevance as it brings families and communities together. Beyond rituals and food, the festival reflects gratitude towards nature and the elements that sustain life. The lighting of bonfires, offerings and prayers symbolise hope, positivity and renewal, reinforcing the bond between tradition, agriculture and community life.

Lohri 2026: A Festival of Warmth, Tradition and Togetherness

Lohri 2026 will be observed as a celebration of warmth amid winter, agricultural prosperity and shared cultural heritage. With its rituals, traditional food, folk music and meaningful prayers, the festival continues to remain an important part of India’s cultural fabric. As families gather around bonfires on January 13, Lohri once again marks the transition from cold days to longer, brighter ones, carrying forward traditions that have endured for generations.

Spiritual Significance and Divine Guidance

Lohri is traditionally observed to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season, focusing on agricultural prosperity and gratitude for crops. The festival symbolizes hope for a fruitful harvest and the sustenance provided by nature. However, when calamities affect the food providers, the role of the Supreme becomes profoundly visible.

In recent years, regions in Punjab, Haryana, and Northern India experienced severe floods that submerged fields, destroying existing crops and threatening the upcoming Rabi harvest. During these challenging times, Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj, under the Annapurna Muhim initiative, arranged and delivered millions worth of pumps and pipelines across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana. 

He did not consider state boundaries, religion, or social affiliations; instead, He extended aid equally to all, irrespective of whether they were His followers or not. Even while residing in Jail Dham, Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj ensured substantial relief reached affected farmers, surpassing government efforts, which were insufficient at the time. Such acts have led many to recognize Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj as a divine guide, demonstrating that true spiritual leadership is reflected in selfless service and protection of humanity during crises.

FAQs on Lohri 2026