Lohri Bonfire Night: Planning a Punjabi Celebration in Chicago

Lohri marks the winter harvest in Punjab, and for many families it is the first big gathering of the year. The fire is the center. In January in Chicago, it also means a cold night and a short list of questions. Where can you have a fire? How do you keep 30 people warm? Where do you dance on frozen ground? This guide answers them.

Check fire rules first

Open fires are not allowed everywhere. A backyard in a Chicago neighborhood, a suburban lot, a park district space and a forest preserve each have their own rules. Condo and HOA rules often add more. Before you plan a bonfire, check with your village, park district or building, and ask about permits and distance from a house or fence.

If a fire is not allowed, you have safe options:

• A contained fire pit, where allowed, with a screen, on bare ground or a pad, away from fences, trees and eaves.
• A gas fire table or fire bowl, which some places treat differently than wood. Ask first.
• Patio heaters in a circle, with candles or lanterns in the center for the feel of a fire. See patio heaters, how many per guests.
• A tent with a heater for the whole party. See tent heater vs patio heater.

Here is a quick way to choose:

Keep a hose, a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher close by, and assign one adult to watch the fire at all times.

What people do on Lohri night

Traditions differ across families, but these are common:

• The fire. Everyone walks around it, often three times, and offers popcorn, peanuts and sweets to the fire.
• Sweet and crunchy food. Popcorn, peanuts, gajak, rewri and sesame sweets, with sugarcane in some homes. Many families also serve sarson da saag and makki di roti.
• Songs and dance. Folk songs about Dulla Bhatti, bhangra and gidda.
• A first Lohri. Families celebrate extra for a baby's first Lohri or a newlywed couple's first, with gifts and a special place by the fire.

Layout for a cold night

Make a clear space for bhangra

Bhangra needs floor. In January the ground is frozen, wet or muddy. A grass lawn becomes a slick patch in minutes. A portable dance floor, or a tent with a floor, keeps dancers safe. For sizes, see dance floor size by guest count. A rule of thumb is about 4 to 5 square feet per dancer, and Lohri dances run big and loud, so give more room than a wedding dance floor.

Keep the dance space away from the fire. The dhol or speakers need a power source, and an extension cord must be rated for the load and tape down across the path. See event power needs checklist.

Keep guests warm

Heaters need fuel, and propane may not come with the rental. Ask what is included, and plan a spare tank. Place heaters at the edge of the seating, and never inside a closed tent unless the heater is made for it. Check with your rental company about tent heater safety.

Also plan blankets, a hot drink station with chai, hot cocoa or coffee, and a coat rack or a covered porch for coats. See coat racks for winter events and coffee and tea service rental.

What most hosts find out too late

• Delivery on frozen ground. Heavy chairs and heaters need a clear path. Shovel the gangway and tell your rental company about steps and ice.
• Fuel is a separate item. Patio heaters, fire bowls and tent heaters often need fuel that is not part of the rental price. Ask.
• It is dark early. Without lights, a Lohri party at 5 pm is in the dark. Add string lights or lanterns for walkways. See backyard party lighting ideas.

Plan your Lohri night

For more on heating, see chicago winter event planning. Then get a quote with your guest count, or book a free 15-minute planning call. One call covers heaters, dance floors and seating.