Lohri is one of the festivals that we celebrated with full zest and zeal last year before things started turning dull. Oh, the bonfire on a cold winter night, popcorn, til ki revari, and gajjak for munching, dancing with friends, and so much more. Most of us are going to miss the grand celebrations this year because of…well…you know “what”. (I’m honestly tired of naming “it” in every piece since the last two years. So, now it’s simply ‘the thing that shall not be named.’) But missing grand public celebrations doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have fun on your own. You can still make Lohri 2022 celebrations fun by setting the mood just right. Here’s how:

1. Start by fixing yourself a fun outfit

Nobody has ever said that celebrating a festival at home means bidding adieu to dressing up for the occasion! Even if you’re saving those dry-cleaned dresses for a bigger event, you can still look like a patakha with a quick mix and match. If there’s anything that Bollywood has taught us, it is that a colour-coordinated, expensive outfit isn’t the bottom line of it all. Remember the iconic suits of Geet from Jab We Met and Mala from Action Replayy? Are you getting where I’m going with this? Bring your own style to the party, girl!

Related: Bollywood Fashion 101: How To Look Like A Patakha

2. Plan a party menu

The best part about planning a meal for yourself is NOT having to plan it for a guest list. You can focus on what you like and how you like it without being worried about all the taijis and chachis and their special meal requirements. Plan a dinner menu for yourself with some amazing snacks, a delicious main course, and, of course, a drink (or more). Here are some suggestions to get your taste buds activated:

• Healthy Alternatives To Potato Fries 
• Delicious Cocktail Snacks
• Scrumptious Kachori Recipe
• The Best Recipe For Samosas

3. Set up a Lohri playlist

There’s nothing like a good Punjabi and Bollywood mix playlist when it comes to getting into the perfect festive mood. We’ve got a few suggestions on our Spotify playlists here and here.

Check out our other playlists by clicking on the image below:

4. No bonfire? No problem!

Here’s an easy fix to bring in the bonfire vibes indoors — if you have a fireplace, set it up. Alternatively, stream a cosy fireplace video on your TV or laptop screens.

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In your sitting area, set up a warm ambience with the help of scented candles and a heating appliance. All set!

Note: Be careful with the candles and make sure to keep them away from drapes and other flammable material.

5. Finally, make it a party!

We’re pretty sure you’re not the only ones celebrating Lohri alone at home this year. So, hop on the party planner train and get all your friends to follow the steps above and then ask them to join you over a Zoom call for a fun night.

Listen to music together, dance, play online games, and have a night you’ll truly remember.

You can even plan a balcony-to-balcony event with your neighbours where you all dress up, light some candles, and enjoy good food with some dhol and bhangra music!