Lohri is a very popular festival of Punjab which is celebrated in the middle of January. Lohri marks the end of winter on the last day of Paush,and beginning of Magha when the sun changes its course. It is associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities with different names.On this day there is a big excitemnet in whole punjab and there exists feeling of jubilation all over.This is the best harvest time and there is atmosphere of happines and satisfaction.

The festival of Lohri signifies the harvesting of the Rabi crops.Harvested fields and front yards are litup with flames of bonfires, around which people gather to meet friends and relatives and sing folk songs. For Punjabis it is also an example of their love for celebrations. Lohri celebrates fertility and the joy of life.

It is said that,the name,Lohri is derived from Loi,the wife of Sant Kabir, for in rural Punjab Lohri is pronounced as Lohi.Others say that Lohri comes from the word 'loh',a thick iron plate,called tava,which is used for roasting rotis for the community feasts.As per a legend,Holika(Holi) and Lohri were sisters and the former perished in the Holi fire, while the latter survived.Consuming the preparations of til (sesame seeds) especially the 'Laddoos' and rorhi (jaggery) is considered to be essential on this day.It is assumed that the word Lohri is derived from the combination of Til and Rohri.

                                                             Rituals

On the day of Lohri,the courtyards and  the houses are cleaned and sprinkled with water.In the morning, children go to different houses by singing the songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti,a Punjabi version of Robin Hood,who stole money from the rich and donated to the poor.People from houses give money as the doors are knocked by this children.In the evening, all people dress up in their best clothes and gather around the bonfire.Newly married brides wear jewelery and traditional clothes,while the new-born are given little combs to hold and everyone is in festive mood.

At sunset,a large bonfire is lit up and sesame seeds,jaggery, sugar-candy,puffed rice,popcorns and rewaries are tossed by chanting "Aadar aye dilather jaye" (May honor come and poverty vanish), and sing popular folk songs. This is a sort of prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance,happiness and prosperity.People sit round it and sing, dance till the fire puts off.People take dying embers of the bonafire to their homes.People also put sugarcane sticks into the fire to spread aroma of burning sugar in the viscinity. 

While tossing the sesame seeds in the fire one asks for sons.It is said that-the number of seasame seeds the elder brother's wife throws, that many sons the younger brother's wife will get.So,in the families, where there is a new-born son or a newly married person, Lohri is celebrated with more enthusiasm,and sweets of molasses and sesame seeds are distributed to relatives and friends.The Punjabi word for sesame seed is 'Til' and for molasses,they call 'Rorhi' ,hence,the festival is also called "Tilori".