‘Lo aagyi lohri re!’ Lohri is a Punjabi folk festival celebrated every year in January. The festival is marked with great joy and enthusiasm, mostly in North India, as it signifies the festival of harvest. Lohri celebrates the harvest of crops like sugarcane, peanuts, and radish. In 2024, people are celebrating Lohri on either January 13 or January 14. It is a perfect festival for winter, as people light bonfires and gather around the fire to pray, sing folk songs, and dance, creating a joyful atmosphere. People also sit in groups around the bonfire to beat the winter chill.
Along with lighting bonfires and socializing, enjoying some Lohri special foods is also an essential part of the festival. People prepare a special ‘Lohri Ki Thali’ to feast on after lighting the bonfire. If you want to prepare a delicious and aromatic ‘Lohri Ki Thali’ this year, here are 5 foods you must include:
1. Sarson Da Saag: Sarson da Saag is a Punjabi winter delicacy, a must-have on the joyous occasion of Lohri. Made from mustard greens (Sarson ka saag), this dish is enjoyed with a generous topping of butter.
2. Makki Ki Roti: Makki ki roti is a flatbread prepared from cornmeal (maize flour) and is traditionally paired with Sarson da Saag. It is best enjoyed hot and fresh.
3. Murmure Ke Ladoo: Murmure Ke Ladoo is a perfect Lohri snack – crunchy, sweet, light, and easy to make. Made from rice puffs (murmure), jaggery, and water, these ladoos are a delightful treat.
4. Til Chikki, Gajjak, And Rewari: These sesame seed-based sweets, such as chikkis, gajjaks, and rewaris, are a must for Lohri. They are made with white sesame seeds combined with sugar or jaggery, offering a delicious and healthy winter treat.
5. Popcorn and Peanuts: Popcorn and peanuts are popular snacks enjoyed during Lohri. People not only munch on them while gathered around the bonfire but also pop them into the fire as a form of prasad.
Combine all these items on a big thaal or platter, and you have your ‘Lohri Ki Thali’ ready! Wishing you a Happy Lohri 2024!