Festival · Pausha Krishna Dashami
Bhogi 2026
Bhogi is the day before Sankranti: bajra bhakri pressed with sesame, white butter and bhogichi bhaji. Winter's warming food, and a clear-out of the old to make room for the new.
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for Indore. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asLohri (Punjab), Bhogi Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
- WhereMaharashtra and the south; Lohri in the north
- Puja forIn the south, Indra, god of rain
- In one lineThe first day of Sankranti: a winter meal of sesame and bajra, and a send-off for the old.
Bhogi, in a little more detail
- 01
About the festival
Bhogi falls on the last day of Margashirsha, the day before Sankranti. It opens the Sankranti festival: Bhogi, Sankrant and Kinkrant.
Bhogi is a festival of enjoyment. The new crop is in, the markets are full of winter greens and beans, and today all of it lands on one plate.
Bajra and sesame keep the body warm in the cold. Eat for the season, and enjoy what it brings: that's the simple meaning of the day.
- 02
Thanks to Indra, and a fire for the old
Indra is king of the gods and the god of rain. In the south, people thank him today for the rains that grew this harvest, and pray for good rain in the year ahead.
There, at dawn, the old and unwanted things of the house, old wood and broken furniture, go onto a bonfire. Houses are cleaned, painted and decorated.
The fire closes the old year's accounts and opens the new ones. Let go of what you no longer need, and there's room for something new.
- 03
In Maharashtra and beyond
Bhogichi bhaji is every vegetable of the season in one pot: peas, carrot, brinjal, green chana, papdi beans, with ground sesame. With it, bajra bhakri pressed with sesame, white butter, and moong dal khichdi.
Women take an abhyang snan, an oil bath, today. The house is cleaned, new clothes come out, and the festival begins.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana a bonfire burns at dawn, and in the evening comes Bhogi Pallu: ber fruit, sugarcane bits, flowers and coins showered over small children. In Tamil Nadu it's Bhogi Pongal, and in the Kongu region neem leaves are tied to the house.
In Punjab tonight is Lohri: sesame, jaggery and rewri go into the fire, and popcorn and peanuts go round. It marks the rabi season and the sugarcane harvest.
How to do the puja
In short: An oil bath in the morning, then the winter plate: bhogichi bhaji, sesame bajra bhakri and white butter.
- 1The day before, clean the house and set aside what you don't need.Whatever is still usable, give it to someone instead of throwing it out.
- 2In the morning, rub oil on the body and take an abhyang snan.Many homes use sesame oil or an ubtan. Oil makes the floor slippery: give the elderly a hand, and keep the bathroom warm.
- 3Put on new or freshly washed clothes.The Sankranti festival starts today.
- 4Cook bhogichi bhaji: the season's vegetables together, with ground sesame.Peas, carrot, brinjal, green chana, papdi beans: whatever you can get works.
- 5Pat out bajra bhakri pressed with sesame, and make moong dal khichdi.Eat the bhakri with white butter.
- 6Offer the plate to God first, then sit down to eat together.In many homes the bhaji goes round to the neighbours too.
What you needTick as you go
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a puja on Bhogi?
In Maharashtra there's no set puja: the bath, new clothes and the meal offered to God are the festival. In the south, Indra is worshipped today.
Bhogi, Sankrant, Kinkrant: what happens on which day?
Bhogi: the bath and the Bhogi meal. Sankranti: the sugad, tilgul, gulachi poli and haldi-kunku. Kinkrant: nothing new is started, but the haldi-kunku goes on.
Should I light a bonfire?
The dawn bonfire is mostly a southern custom. If you light one, burn only wood: no plastic, tyres or painted furniture, whose smoke is toxic. Keep children away from the fire.
Should the elderly take the oil bath?
Yes, with care: warm water, a warm bathroom, and a stool to sit on. Dry off straight away. If you're unwell, a little oil and a simple bath is enough.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.