Lohri is a popular festival celebrated by Punjabi people of Sikh faith as well as Hindu faith. Lohri is mainly Sikh festival however the day of Lohri is decided based on Hindu calendar. Lohri is closely linked to Hindu festival Makara Sankranti and it is celebrated one day before of that.

The most special thing about this festival is the folk tales related to it. There are some mythological stories which are related to this festival. According to mythology, it is believed that the fire was lit in the memory of Sati, daughter of King Daksh, on the day of Lohri  who had not seen the insult to her husband God Shiva and consumed herself in Yagya.

There is also a folk tale, although some people tell as history, about Lohri festival which is associated with Punjab. During Mughal period, a young man named Dulla Bhatti lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Once a few wealthy traders were dealing with girls in the area and then Dulla Bhatti freed the girls from the clutches of merchants. After this incident, Bhatti was given the title of Dulha. While Bhatti was killed in 1599, he created a legacy through his opposition of the abduction and selling of girls into slavery, arranging marriages for them and also providing their dowries. His legacy is celebrated during Lohri for his fight to save Punjabi girls.

The festival of Lohri is mainly celebrated in North Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. The festival is mainly seen as an occasion marking the end of the winters and beginning of a new harvest season by Punjabi’s. The festival celebrates fertility and new spark of life. For Punjabis it is more than just a festival it is a way of life. The celebrations and gatherings make it a community festival. Lohri involves a Puja Parikrama around the bonfire and distribution of Prasad. This symbolizes a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity. The first Lohri of a new born child and a newly wed bride is considered very auspicious.

Another ritual associated with the festival sees young lads and girls going from home to home and asking for Lohri, which is some form of donation either in cash or sweets. There is a traditional dinner with Makki ki Roti (unleavened Indian bread made from corn flour) and Sarson ka Saag (mustard leaves curry). Then the Prasad is distributed which comprises of six things: Til (Sesame), Gazak (dry sweet dish), Gur (jaggery), Moongphali (peanut), Phuliya and popcorn.