Celebrated commonly among the Punjabi community, Lohri is truly is a festival to celebrate love and exuberance. People not only in Punjab but even in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh rejoice on the occasion of Lohri with utmost enthusiasm and zest.
Marking a good harvest season and a good relief from the biting cold especially in North India, comes Lohri after Makar Sankranti each year, that is also significant both traditionally and culturally in the country. Lohri night is rather believed to be the longest night and a beginning of the winter solstice, where the origin of the name is subjected to several theories for instance, ‘ Loi’, the wife of Saint Kabir or ‘Loh’, an iron pan used for making food.
Lohri night is rather believed to be the longest night and a beginning of the winter solstice, where the origin of the name is subjected to several theories for instance, ‘ Loi’, the wife of Saint Kabir or ‘Loh’, an iron pan used for making food.
Celebrated commonly among the Punjabi community, it truly is a festival to celebrate love and exuberance. People not only in Punjab but even in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh rejoice on the occasion of Lohri with utmost enthusiasm and zest.
Illuminating one’s house or roads with a bonfire that has come to be a part of the ceremonial ritual, offering popcorns and nuts in the fire, dancing to the dhol beats, singing folklore while taking rounds around the fire like ‘Sundar mundariye Tera Kaun Bechara Dulla Bhatti Wala…’, preparing delicious sweets and dishes and feasting on them are some popular traditional yet interesting activities. Dulla Bhatti is apparently a traditional hero who had robbed the rich to help the poor.
Lohri is mainly celebrated for thanking God for the beautiful and fruitful harvest season and for the essential natural elements like water, air and fire and focuses on praying to the God of Fire to always bless the land to prosper with crops. It is also celebrated with popular food items like ‘makki-di-roti’ and ‘sarson-da-saag’.
Children particularly enjoy visiting their neighbours to collect sweets, nuts and snacks such as gajak, til, rewri, jaggery and moongphali as well as some cash. This practice is known as ‘Lohri Loot.’ Newly-wed couples and new-born babies are especially welcomed with even more splendid celebrations and a grand rejoice, particularly in Punjabi families.
This is a nice time to have a get together with your family and friends to celebrate, rejoice and get refreshed and rejuvenated from daily chores and professional stresses. Lohri wishes which earlier were on word of mouth and over the phone or mail now are conveniently displayed over the social media sites. Twitter has seen the spirit of Lohri among people with several people wishing their near and dear ones and other Twitteratis as well on the social networking site.
Festivals like Lohri have a sweet charm cos they haven’t been commercialised n blown out of proportion by Bollywood yet.
— SuitcaseOfStories (@hippyboxx) January 13, 2015
Happy Lohri to all fellow Punjabis !Wish away Winter as you snuggle by the bonfire today with revadi & moongphali https://t.co/vYHJAJs44C
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 13, 2015
Happy LOHRI people may the #Lohri Fire burn away all your sorrows, enjoy family time
— Sidharth Malhotra (@S1dharthM) January 13, 2015
It’s a cold winter day here in Delhi. But that makes for a perfect festival. A very happy Lohri to everyone!
— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) January 13, 2015
Among all this hush and rush and humdrum on the first grand festival of the year 2015, ninety trains have reportedly been cancelled today on the very occasion of Lohri and three flights have been delayed in Delhi.
This is sure to disrupt the celebration of Lohri this year for many people living in North India.
While praying that these people get together with their loved ones soon, let us enjoy this day to the fullest with gifts and greetings to our friends and family. Happy Lohri!
