Lohri 2026 celebrates on January 13 with bonfires, songs, and Punjabi feasts honoring harvest bounty. Key rituals feature sesame, jaggery, and sweets tossed into flames. Iconic dishes include creamy Sarson da Saag paired with Makki di Roti, crunchy Gajak/Rewari, nourishing Pinni, and Til Ladoo—warming winter classics for family gatherings.
Lohri 2026 falls on January 13, marking the harvest festival's joyous eve of Makar Sankranti with bonfires, folk songs, and feasts celebrating winter's end and rabi crops like wheat and mustard.
Key Highlights
- Lohri honors nature's bounty through rituals like lighting bonfires and offering sesame, jaggery, popcorn, peanuts, sugarcane, gajak, and rewari to the flames for prosperity and warmth.
- The festival emphasizes Punjabi winter staples, pairing hearty greens with corn flatbreads and energy-packed sweets roasted in ghee.
- Celebrated mainly in Punjab and North India on January 13, 2026 (Tuesday), with Sankranti at 3:13 PM on January 14, it signifies longer days and agricultural abundance.
Traditional Recipes
- Sarson da Saag with Makki di Roti stands as the iconic duo: Pressure-cook chopped mustard greens, spinach, and bathua; puree coarsely, simmer with ginger, garlic, green chilies, onions, tomatoes, and maize flour slurry for creamy texture, then temper with ghee, cumin, and spices. Knead cornmeal with warm water and salt into soft dough, pat into thick discs, cook on griddle with ghee until golden, and serve hot topped with butter alongside saag and jaggery.
- Gajak and Rewari offer crunchy delights: Roast peanuts or sesame seeds in ghee, mix with melted jaggery syrup to brittle stage, cool, and break into pieces for sharing.
- Pinni provides nourishing balls: Roast whole wheat flour in ghee till nutty, stir in nuts, cardamom, ginger powder, and jaggery-milk syrup; shape into rounds while warm.
- Til Ladoo and Peanut Chikki complete the spread: Bind roasted sesame or peanuts with jaggery and ghee into laddus or sheets, cooling them for festive munching.
These recipes embody Lohri's spirit of community and seasonal flavors, perfect for January 13 gatherings.
Sources: Indian Express, Moneycontrol, News18, NDTV Food, Times Now, Veg Recipes of India