Lohri, the harvest festival of north India, is all about togetherness, great food and singing and dancing around a huge bonfire. This year, the festival falls on January 13
Image: File
Also called 'Lohadi' or 'Lal Loi', Lohri marks the end of the sowing season of winter crops and makes way for a good harvest season
Image: ANI
The Punjabi and Hindu communities pray to the Sun god and Fire God for agricultural prosperity and abundant harvesting of the crops sown before the winter season
Image: ANI
Lohri also holds special significance for the newly married couple or the newborn child in the family as family members and relatives gather together to celebrate their first Lohri
Image: ANI
The festival has great social significance as well as it brings people - both rich and the poor - together
Image: ANI
Foods such as gajak and rewari are central to Lohri, and so are peanuts, popcorn and til
Image: ANI
On this day, people exchange beautiful Lohri messages, greet each other, wear new dresses, circle around the bonfire, and dance to the rhythmic beats of the dhol
Image: ANI
Bonfires are central to Lohri and the celebrations revolve around them, adding warmth and cheer to the cold winter night
Image: ANI
People also fly kites on this day and the sky is dotted with multi-coloured kites like "Tukkal", "Chhaj", "Pari" of different sizes and shapes carrying Happy Lohri messages
Image: ANI
Group dances are very special on Lohri. A heritage of Punjab, men and women do Bhangra, Jhoomer, Giddha and Kikli - some of the popular traditional festive dances