North India bids adieu to winters with the harvest festival 'Lohri'

The country will celebrate the beginning of the harvest season on January 13 by observing the festival of harvest.

The day marks the end of the winter season. From this day onwards the sun starts shifting towards the northern hemisphere.

The day also marks the passing of winter solstice, astronomical phenomena marking shorter days and longer nights. 

Lohri is majorly celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus from Punjab. 

The people celebrate the harvest season and the passing of winters by performing a puja parikrama around bonfire and distribution of Prasad. They offer prayer to the Agni for providing abundant crops and prosperity. 

The day falls on January 13 every year, a day before the Makar Sankranti and Pongal.

The festival is also celebrated by a section of Sikhs, Punjabi Muslims and Christians in Pakistan as well.