The Lohari Festival takes place the night before Makara Sankranti, the day when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which nearly invariably occurs on January 14.
A big bonfire is the focal point of this festival.
Celebrants gather fuel for weeks before igniting the fire on
the festival's last evening.
People dance, sing, and stroll around the fire, presenting
sweets, fried snacks, and peanuts to the fire; the same foods are also offered
as prasad, or sanctified food, to those present.
Lohari is a seasonal event that commemorates the end of the
coldest part of the winter and heralds the return of milder weather, which is
represented by fire.
This holiday is observed throughout Punjab and northern
India, where Punjabis have established themselves.
This celebration also acts as a public demonstration of the
family's evolution.
Families that have had recent weddings or babies rejoice
with zeal, but families who have just lost a loved one typically do not.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
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