7 Traditional Dishes To Try During Lohri 2025 Celebrations

The beginning of January brings with it a host of winter festivals. One of these is Lohri, a Punjabi folk festival that traditionally marks the end of the cold season. The day precedes Makar Sankranti, which marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara). Lohri is a harvest festival where farmers harvest rabi crops like sugarcane, wheat and mustard, thus marking the end of the sowing season and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. Many Indian territories like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi hold grand Lohri celebrations every year, with communities gathering around a bonfire and offering sesame seeds, popcorn, jaggery and peanuts as a sign of gratitude. In 2025, Lohri will be held on January 13, coinciding with the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela.

During Lohri, people eat a variety of special foods like sarson da saag and makki di roti, til ke laddoo, and gajak, to name a few. Here are seven dishes you must try during Lohri 2025.

Sarson Da Saag And Makki Di Roti

This quintessential Punjabi delicacy is the heart and soul of every occasion. The hearty winter dish of sarson da saag is prepared with a mix of green leafy vegetables that include mustard leaves, spinach leaves, bathua and methi, accompanied by green chillies, ginger and garlic. Once cooked, the saag is tempered with ghee, red chillies and mustard seeds for an elevated flavour. Eaten with makki di roti, this dish tops the list of Lohri meals.

Til Ki Chikki

Sesame brittle, also known as til ki chikki, is a traditional Lohri treat that represents wealth and good fortune. This crispy and chewy dessert is made with roasted sesame seeds mixed with jaggery syrup and then formed into squares or bars. To make til ki chikki, melt the jaggery until it becomes a soft ball and then stir in the toasted sesame seeds. It can be easily served by cutting it into pieces when cooled.

Dahi Bhalle

Prepared with a rich blend of dal dumplings topped with chutneys, curd and salad, dahi bhalle is a well-loved street snack. The lentil batter-based fritters are fried to perfection, soaked in water and topped with chilled yoghurt and essential chaat toppings. The probiotics in yoghurt promote gut health, making it a good choice amid festive indulgence.

Murmure Ke Laddoo

Made from puffed rice, murmure ke laddoo is a light and filling dessert that is frequently consumed during celebrations like Lohri. Combining melted chocolate or jaggery syrup with puffed rice means it is an easy-to-make and tasty treat suitable for all ages. Heat the jaggery until it melts and then add the puffed rice. While it is still hot, the mixture is shaped into balls. The crunchy texture of the laddoos makes it the perfect snack to munch on during Lohri.

Gajar Ka Halwa

Gajar ka halwa is a sweet treat made from grated carrots simmered gently with milk, sugar and ghee until it thickens. Towards the end, cardamom and sugar are added to enhance the flavour. When fresh carrots are plentiful in the winter, this warm treat is particularly popular. The rich dessert, which also uses seasonal fruits during the celebration, is the perfect end to a Lohri dinner.

Gajak

Gajak is a dessert prepared with jaggery and peanuts or sesame seeds, whose warming qualities and nutritional advantages make it a popular wintertime snack. Jaggery is melted down and combined with sesame seeds or roasted peanuts to form gur ki gajak. After cooling on an oiled surface, the mixture is spread out and cut into bars or squares, much like til ki chikki.

Panjiri

This is a sweet dish made with wheat flour, dry fruits and ghee. It is believed to provide warmth to the body during the winter season and is often made as a dessert to eat after Lohri dinners.