From City Hotels to Forest Retreats: Harvest Celebrations at Taj, Jaypee and Aahana

At the height of winter, when North India’s kitchens turn to slow cooking, seasonal greens and fire-led flavours, harvest festivals across the region mark a time of abundance, gratitude and togetherness. From Lohri and Makar Sankranti to Pongal, leading hospitality destinations across Taj, SeleQtions, Jaypee Hotels and Aahana Resort, Jim Corbett are celebrating the season through thoughtfully curated dining experiences - bringing regional traditions, seasonal ingredients and time-honoured recipes to the table in settings that invite guests to gather, pause and savour the spirit of the harvest.

1. Loya, Taj Palace, New Delhi Brings a Winter Harvest Celebration of Lohri to the Capital

Known as a favourite among the Capital’s diners for its deep-rooted North Indian flavours, Loya at Taj Palace, New Delhi, celebrates Lohri as a soulful tribute to the winter harvest, shaped by provenance, tradition and slow cooking. Drawing from regional traditions and age-old culinary practices, the experience is designed as an immersive journey through the flavours, rituals and warmth associated with the season.

The festive menu brings together comforting classics and regional favourites that reflect the depth of winter cooking across the North. Highlights include Sarson da Saag served with Challi ki Roti and kanji, Chollia prepared three ways, Kadam Gosht slow-cooked with kohlrabi, Rye Wala Murg with black mustard greens, Saat Anaj Khichdi and Bathua Raita. The meal concludes with nostalgic winter desserts such as Gud Wale Chawal and Gajrela, evoking the abundance and quiet indulgence of the harvest period.

Guided by fire-led techniques and a respect for heritage cooking, Lohri at Loya is envisioned as a flavour-forward celebration that honours seasonality and the enduring joy of gathering around food.

• Price: À la carte
• Time: Lunch: 12:30 pm to 2:45 pm | Dinner: 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm
• Venue: Loya, Taj Palace, 2 Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi 110021

Reservations: +91 9355805503

2. A Taste of Kumaon This Winter at Aahana Resort

This winter, Aahana invites guests to slow down and savour the season through a thoughtfully curated Kumaoni Winter Thali, rooted in the flavours, produce, and traditions of the hills. Designed around the warmth and abundance associated with Lohri and Makar Sankranti, the experience celebrates seasonal ingredients that thrive in colder months and have long been central to mountain kitchens.

Served at Dhikala, Aahana’s signature dining space overlooking the poolside lawns and the Bijrani forest, the thali brings together comforting, slow-cooked Kumaoni preparations such as Aloo ke Gutke, Bhaatt ki Daal, Sisunak Saag, Bhang ki Chutney and Pahadi Raita, paired with warm madua rotis and fragrant local rice. Every element reflects Aahana’s deep connection to the land, with ingredients sourced from its own kitchen garden and trusted local communities.

From rajma grown by a small farming family in Munsiyari and hand-pounded mandua flour sourced from village co-operatives, to pahadi ghee, churpi cheese and sustainably harvested wild forest honey, the thali is an honest expression of winter in the hills. Set within Aahana, a forest-led retreat where nature quietly shapes every experience, this seasonal offering is meant to be enjoyed unhurried, shared with warmth, and remembered long after the last bite.

• Dates: 10th January – 25th January
• Venue: Dhikala, Aahana Resort, Jim Corbett
• Offering: Kumaoni Winter Thali

3. Machan, Taj Mahal, New Delhi Brings Together the Flavours of North India’s Winter Harvest on a Thali

Machan, the iconic all-day dining restaurant at Taj Mahal, New Delhi, presents Harvest Flavours of North India—a limited-period thali experience that celebrates the richness of the region’s winter harvest through time-honoured recipes and seasonal ingredients.

Curated to coincide with Lohri and Makar Sankranti, the experience draws from the culinary customs that mark these festivals, where abundance, warmth and sharing take centre stage. Winter produce such as mustard greens, carrots, radish and millets feature prominently, lending authenticity and depth to the menu while reflecting ingredients at their seasonal peak.

Served traditionally on a thali, the meal brings together familiar North Indian flavours, presented with Machan’s signature all-day dining finesse. Designed as a convivial dining format, the experience encourages indulgence, sharing and cultural connection, making it a fitting way to mark the harvest season.

Set within Machan’s warm and inviting ambience, Harvest Flavours of North India offers guests an opportunity to gather and savour a festive meal that honours tradition while remaining comfortably contemporary.

• Dates: 10th January – 25th January
• Venue: Machan, Taj Mahal, New Delhi
• Offering: North Indian Thali
• Price: INR 3,200 plus taxes per thali

4. Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka Celebrates the Spirit of Harvest with Lohri and Pongal Festivities at Creo

Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka brings the spirit of India’s harvest festivals together with two distinct celebrations - Lohri and Pongal at Creo, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, offering guests an opportunity to experience the diversity of regional traditions through food, culture and festive warmth.

The Lohri celebration unfolds as a lively evening marked by a traditional bonfire, vibrant festive décor and live dhol performances, creating a spirited Punjabi atmosphere. Guests can indulge in a lavish Lohri buffet featuring authentic winter specialities and festive favourites, complemented by thoughtful festive giveaways that add to the celebratory mood.

Continuing the harvest festivities, Pongal is celebrated with a specially curated festive buffet dinner that pays tribute to South India’s harvest traditions. The menu brings together authentic recipes presented with refined elegance, reflecting the festival’s themes of gratitude, abundance and togetherness.

Designed as a warm and inclusive celebration, the harvest festivities at Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka offer guests a chance to gather, savour regional flavours and mark the season in a setting that blends tradition with contemporary hospitality.

• Date: Lohri Celebration – 13th January 2026 | Pongal – 14th January 2026
• Time: 7:30 pm onwards
• Venue: Creo & Alfresco Area, Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka

5. A Season of Harvest at The Connaught, New Delhi – IHCL SeleQtions

The Connaught, New Delhi – IHCL SeleQtions invites guests to celebrate the season of harvest with two thoughtfully curated culinary experiences at The Hub, honouring India’s regional traditions through flavour, warmth and togetherness.

Marking Lohri, the hotel presents a chef-crafted winter thali inspired by the comforting flavours of North India. Rooted in seasonal produce and time-honoured recipes, the Lohri offering celebrates abundance and community, bringing together hearty winter dishes served in the spirit of gathering and gratitude.

The harvest celebrations continue with Pongal, envisioned as a soulful tribute to South India’s agrarian traditions. Thoughtfully prepared dishes spotlight freshly harvested rice, gentle spices and classic flavours, reflecting the essence of gratitude and renewal that defines the festival. Served with warmth and simplicity, the Pongal experience honours abundance in its most authentic form.

Designed as an ode to India’s diverse harvest traditions, the Season of Harvest at The Connaught brings together regional flavours, cultural nuance and the joy of shared meals in an elegant, welcoming setting.

• Date: 7th to 13th January, 2026 (Lohri) and 14th to 17th January, 2026 (Pongal)
• Time: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
• Venue: The Hub, The Connaught, New Delhi - IHCL SeleQtions

6. An Evening Built Around Warmth, Flavour, and The essence of new beginnings: Lohri Di Shaam Saade Naal at Cook’s Café

Jaypee Hotels invites guests to celebrate the warmth and spirit of the harvest festival with Lohri Di Shaam Saade Naal at Cooks Cafe at Atlantic - Jaypee Integrated Sports Complex, Greater Noida. Rooted in the traditions of North India, the evening brings together the familiar elements of Lohri - bonfire gatherings, folk music, games and shared food, creating a setting that feels communal and festive.

Designed as a relaxed yet vibrant celebration, the experience blends cultural rituals with a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere, allowing guests to come together over music, food and the simple joy of the season. Lohri Di Shaam Saade Naal offers an evening where tradition takes centre stage and the warmth of togetherness defines the celebration.

• Event: Lohri Di Shaam Saade Naal
• Venue: Cooks Cafe at Atlantic - Jaypee Integrated Sports Complex, Greater Noida
• Date: 13th January 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Pricing:
  ₹1,199 AI (Adults)
  ₹649 AI (Kids, 5–10 years)

10% discount applicable for club members and early bird bookings.

7. A Harvest Feast This Makar Sankranti at Taj City Centre, Gurugram

Taj City Centre Gurugram welcomes the harvest season with a warm and leisurely Makar Sankranti celebration at Culina 44, its all-day dining restaurant. Thoughtfully curated to reflect the spirit of abundance and togetherness, the festive buffet brings together traditional flavours and time-honoured recipes, served with the warmth and care that define the season.

Set in a relaxed, welcoming ambience at the heart of the city, the themed dinner offers guests an opportunity to pause, gather and savour the simple joys of harvest celebrations through food that is rooted in tradition yet presented with quiet elegance.

• Event: Makar Sankranti Festive Buffet Dinner
• Date: Wednesday, 14th January
• Time: 7:30 pm onwards
• Venue: Culina 44, Taj City Centre, Gurugram