Lohri puja 2021 — date, time, and all you need to know about the puja vidhi

• Lohri is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti and hence falls on 13 January year on year.
  
  
• Marking the end of autumn season and the harsh winters, Lohri ushers in a new beginning.
  
  
• Lohri is popular in Punjab and Haryana and is celebrated fervently by the agricultural community
  

The festival of Lohri falling a day before Makar Sankranti is a popular harvest festival that is celebrated mainly in the northern states of India, like Punjab and Haryana, with great fervour. Marking the end of autumn season and the harsh winters, Lohri ushers in a new beginning.

Around this time, the farmers in the North Indian states await the harvest of the rabi crops and hence it is considered as the winter crop season celebration. Lohri also marks the end of Dakshinayana or the southward movement of the sun and on the day of Sankranti, the sun begins its northward travel.

Lohri date and time in 2021

Like it does in most years, Lohri falls on 13th January in 2021 which happens to be a Wednesday. The Lohri Sankranti moment will however take place at 8:28 am on January 14, 2021. Lohri celebrations are done on the eve of Makar Sankranti. So, on 13th January 2021 night, the Lohri bonfire is lit, around which boys, girls, men and women participate in singing, dancing and praying.

Preparing for Lohri

Lohri celebrations are a joyful process that will need elaborate preparations. Every member in the household takes immense delight in assuming his or her share of responsibilities connected to Lohri. Boys and girls start collecting firewood for the bonfire. The women in the family prepare delicious dishes and snacks for the puja, offerings at the bonfire and for relishing with all later. The essence of Lohri is to thank the Sun god and offer prayers for a bountiful rabi harvest.

How to celebrate Lohri

On the eve of Makar Sankranti, people celebrate Lohri all night long. They wear new clothes and prepare the bonfire. The folks sing, dance and go around the fire at least 7 times, as it is believed that it helps in bringing prosperity. People also remember the sacrifices, heroism and the stories of Dulla Bhatti, and sing songs in praise of him.

How to do Lohri puja

On the day of Lohri, place the picture of Mahadev on a piece of black cloth. An earthen lamp must be lit in front of the deity and people make several offerings and puja to the deity. People usually turn to the West during this puja. After doing puja to Sri Mahadev, people go around the bonfire made of wood and cow dung cakes — singing, dancing and throwing in food items like sugarcane, jaggery and other eatables they have got as part of the puja offering.

Lohri brings in immense joy and happiness for all celebrating this festival of harvest. Lohri also ushers in the new year for farmers in Punjab as it marks the end of sowing and the start of farming season. People of all ages and genders enjoy Lohri for the uniqueness and charm associated with this festival as they pay homage to the Sun god and pray for an abundant harvest.