On a rainy night on Jan. 14, celebrants gathered at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area to celebrate Lohri around a bonfire. The bonfire was moved from the middle of the back parking lot and placed under a red and white striped awning to prevent the fire from being doused by the rain. Attendees gathered around the bonfire, tightly huddled as newly married couples and families sought blessings.

Ghee is poured into the newly started fire for the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Priest Jitendra Kumar Vyas chants some prayers at the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A recently married couple walks around the fire pouring ghee for the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A recently married couple joins hands and pours peanuts into into the fire for the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Priest Jitendra Kumar Vyas holds a tray of sesame treats to hand out to attendees at the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Families huddle underneath an awning in front of the bonfire, taking shelter from the rain, at the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Priest Jitendra Kumar Vyas stands in front the bonfire at the Lohri celebration at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local

Sree Sripathy joined India Currents as a staff photographer and CatchLight Local Fellow as part of CatchLight's California Local Visual Desk program in June 2022. Reach out with story ideas or comments...