Lohri

Lohri

Around January 14; during Hindu month of Magha

Lohri is a traditional seasonal festival in India celebrating winter's end and the returning prominence of the sun to the Northern Hemisphere. Among Hindus and Sikhs Lohri is a particularly special occasion for families who have had a baby during the previous year; families may celebrate with a feast and family members and friends often give gifts to the new child. This is also a traditional day for young unmarried Sikh women to pray for a good marriage, which custom is said to derive from the association of a 16th-century matchmaker named Dulla Bhutti with Lohri. Another old tradition is for children to go door to door singing for candy from the neighbors, not unlike Halloween in the United States.
Throughout India Lohri today is widely celebrated at night with bonfires and dancing. People eat seasonal nuts and candies and also throw them into the fire.
See also Magh Sankranti

CONTACTS:
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Rm. No 123, Transport Bhawan, No. 1, Parliament St.
New Delhi, Delhi 110 001 India
91-11-23715084; fax: 91-11-23715084
www.tourisminindia.com

SOURCES:
CelebFestIndia-1994, p. 36
RelHolCal-2004, p. 204
SikhFest-1989, p. 44