Lohri Festival in Punjab
Marking the imminent end of the winter season, Lohri is a Hindu festival and a huge cultural event in many parts of northern India and particularly in Punjab. The date of the Lohri festival is determined by the solar calendar and marks the coldest day of the year.
The event is inextricably linked to the land and the harvesting seasons with the festival being seen as the last chance for rest and merriment before the crop harvesting begins later in the year in March or April. As the sun sets on the evening of Lohri, huge bonfires are lit across the state symbolising the sun and the move away from winter towards the warmth of the summer months. Whole communities often gather for religious services and to share meals and snacks cooked on the open fires.
Lohri (sometimes spelled Lodi) is an extremely popular harvest festival in India, especially North India. Lohri is usually celebrated in the outdoors by friends and family who get together and have a bonfire in the evening. It may be considered the Indian equivalent of Christmas. Lohri signifies onset of intense winter in Punjab and surrounding areas. Cold weather is good for wheat hence farmers celebrate Lohri so that their crops lead to a good harvest.
According to the Hindu Solar Calendar, Lohri festival falls around 13 January, as per the Gregorian calendar. The earth, is closest to the sun at this point in time (despite a common misconception that the Earth’s distance from the sun correlates with the seasons of the northern hemisphere).
Coming up soon Lohri Festival in Punjab
Lohri Festival : Wed 13 Jan 2010 in Punjab
Punjab is one of the most northerly states of India, bordering Pakistan
Getting to Punjab
Air: There are regular flights to Chandigarh and Amritsar airports.
Rail: Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Jalandhar are the major railway hubs.
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