In the North Makar Sankranti is called Lohri. Lohri marks the culmination of winter, and is celebrated on the 14th day of January a day before Makar Sankranti.  Lohri is the time after which the biting cold of winter begins to taper off. On this day the children go from door to door to collect funds for community bonfires which are lit in the evening.

For Punjabis, this is more than just a festival; it is also an example of a way of life. Lohri celebrates fertility and the spark of life. People gather round the bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, sing popular songs and exchange greetings.

An extremely auspicious day, Lohri marks the sun's entry in to the 'Makar Rashi' (northern hemisphere). Across India, people celebrate the month and the prodigious harvest it brings - Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and the Sankranti in Karnataka, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The focus of Lohri is on the bonfire. It is also the one day when the womenfolk and children get attention. Lohri is more of a community festival, where the birth of a son or the first year of marriage is celebrated with great fun and frolic. The first Lohri of a bride is extremely important. The first Lohri of a newborn baby, whether a girl or a boy, is also equally important.