. The festival is celebrated by lighting bonfires, eating festive food, dancing and collecting gifts. In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement. Most North Indians usually have private Lohri celebrations, in their houses. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs. Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. In Punjab, people wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the
bhangra and
giddha to the beat of the
dhol.
Punjabi songs are sung, and everybody rejoices.
Sarson da saag with
makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner. Lohri holds great importance for farmers. However, people residing in urban areas also celebrate Lohri, as this festival provides the opportunity to interact with family and friends.
Bonfire and festive foods Lohri is celebrated with a bonfire. The lighting of bonfires during this winter festival is an ancient tradition. Ancient people lit the bonfire to reignite the return of longer days. In Punjab, Lohri is marked by eating sheaves of roasted corn from the new harvest. The January sugarcane harvest is celebrated in the Lohri festival. Sugarcane products such as
jaggery and
gajak are central to Lohri celebrations, as are nuts which are harvested in January. The other important food item of Lohri is radish which can be harvested between October and January.
Mustard greens are cultivated mainly in the winter months because the crop is suitable to the agro-climatic conditions. Accordingly, mustard greens are also winter produce. It is traditional to eat gajak, sarson ka saag with makki ki roti, radishes, ground nuts and jaggery. It is also traditional to eat til rice, which is made by mixing jaggery, sesame seeds and
puffed rice. In some places, this dish, more like a snack, is named tilcholi.
Chajja and Hiran dance Lohri in
Jammu is special because of various additional traditions associated with it like
Chajja-making and dancing, Hiran dance, and preparing Lohri garlands. Young children prepare a replica of a peacock which is known as Chajja
. They carry this Chajja and go from one house to other house celebrating Lohri. In and around Jammu, the special Hiran dance is performed. Selected houses which have auspicious ceremonies prepare eatables. Children wear special garlands made of groundnuts, dry fruits and candies on Lohri day.
Collecting Lohri items and trick–or–treating In various places of
Punjab, India about 10 to 15 days before Lohri, groups of young and teenage boys and girls go around the neighbourhood collecting logs for the Lohri bonfire. In some places, they also collect items such as grains and jaggery which are sold, and the sale proceeds are divided among the group. In some parts of Indian Punjab, there is a popular trick–or–treat activity which is engaged in by boys. They select a group member and smear his face with ash and tie a rope around his waist. The idea is for the selected person to act as a deterrent for people who refrain from giving Lohri items. The boys sing Lohri songs asking for Lohri items. If not enough is given, the householder will be given an ultimatum to either give more or the rope will be loosened. If not enough is given, then the boy who has his face smeared will try to enter the house and smash clay pots or the clay stove. the requests for treats increases. It is traditional to offer guests til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts and puffed rice or popcorn. Milk and water are also poured around the bonfire by Hindus to thank the Sun God and seek his continued protection. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to revive the festival in Punjab, Pakistan. The first city celebration was held in Faisalabad in 2013. Since then Lohri has been celebrated in Lahore, Multan and Kasur. In addition to lighting bonfires and eating festive foods, the theme centres on Dulla Bhatti. Among some sections of the
Sindhi community, the festival is traditionally celebrated as
Lal Loi. On the day of Lal Loi children bring wood sticks from their grandparents and aunties and light a fire burning the sticks in the night with people dancing and playing around the fire. The festival is gaining popularity among other Sindhis where Lohri is not a traditional festival. ==Lohri and the financial year==