Lohri 2024: The time for bonfires, popcorn, and singing and dancing is here. Lohri 2024 is at our doorstep and we can't wait to get together with friends and families to celebrate the harvest festival that marks the end of long winter nights. Lohri is a holy festival celebrated with much fanfare in the north Indian state of Punjab. The Sikh and Hindu communities celebrate the festival that falls on the 13th of the first month of the year, according to the Gregorian calendar. According to the Indian calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Pausha.
Also Read: When Is Lohri 2024: Jan 13 Or 14? Know The Right Date And Timings
The festival is a celebration of the Sun God, Surya, who is offered gratitude for gracing devotees with his presence. Lohri is celebrated at the end of the sowing season of winter crops like rabi, which are now ready to be harvested. Lohri traditions involve offering foods made from jaggery or gur, sesame seeds or til and peanuts or moongphali to the holy bonfire that is lit during the celebration. The Lohri feast consists of dishes prepared from seasonal vegetables like mustard greens or sarson and corn or Makai. The dishes traditionally prepared on the occasion of Lohri include sarso ka saag which is served with makki ki roti or flatbreads made from corn flour. The breads are served with a generous smearing of winter super food ghee and with jaggery on the side. Jaggery and sesame seed rice are also a part of the feast. Among Lohri sweets, the most prominent ones are gajak- soft squared sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery, and moongphali ki patti (literally a slab of peanuts in jaggery) or chikki as it's called in some parts of India.
Also Read: Lohri 2024: Make Your Lohri Celebrations Sweeter With Homemade Rajgira Chikki (Recipe Inside)
Here Are 5 Recipes That You Must Try For Lohri 2024:
1.Sarson Ka Saag Aur Makki Ki Roti:
The famous makki ki roti and sarso ka saag combo is one of the most well-known Indian dishes that the Indian cuisine has given the world. The delicious and spicy saag made from mustard greens with garlic and chilli tadka and makki ki roti made from corn flour is a regular feature on Punjabi dinner tables during winter. Click here for the recipe.
Lohri 2024: Sarso ka saag and makke ki roti is the basic punjabi dinner
2. Peanut Chikki
Chikki is not just a winter favourite but is a snack that's popular in several states, all year round. Coupled with the nutritional value is its yummy taste. This delicious snack is capable of giving you an adequate sugar rush when you need it. Click here for the recipe.
Lohri 2024: Chikki is an all-time favourite snack
3. Til Ladoo:
The perfect wintersweet, til laddoo is widely consumed in winter and is a feature on festive menus for Lohri, Makar Sankranti as well as Pongal. Made from sesame seeds and jaggery, the til ladooo or til gul as it's called in Maharashtra, the til ladoo is a winter sweet that you must prepare during Lohri. Click here for the recipe.
Lohri 2024: Til laddoo is widely consumed in winter.
4. Til Ki Chikki
Til or sesame seeds are a regular feature in Indian winter dishes. Til ki chikki is again served during winter and especially enjoyed by the bonfire on Lohri festival. The sweet has a long shelf-life and numerous health benefits. Click here for the recipe.
Lohri 2024: Til ki chikki has a lot of health benefits. (Picture credit: iStock)
5. Gur ki Roti:
These sweet rotis can be served as the perfect end to a Lohri meal or as a part of the main course, along with homemade white butter. Gur ki roti is made from wheat flour that is dunked in a mixture of milk and jaggery and cooked till golden.
Lohri 2024: These sweet rotis can be served as the perfect end to a Lohri meal. (Picture credit: iStock)
Lohri meals are rich and full of seasonal goodness. Just like us, we're sure you'd find these dishes hard to resist. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking!