Lohri Festival in Punjabi Style

Lohri puts semblance of fertility and ecstasy. The festival is celebrated every new year with great thrill across north India. However, it holds special significance for the Punjabis in many ways.

If gone by the geographical statistics, Lohri also marks the movement of Earth towards Sun resembling the propitious period of Uttarayan. Other variable connotations of the festival allude to tale of Dulla Bhatti, wherein, young group of lads go from house to house and ring doorbells to chant songs of Dulla Bhatti. Remembering Dulla Bhatti as the Muslim highway robber, who used to snatch valuables from the rich household in the Punjab and was quiet in prominence during Emperor Akbar’s rule. He used to protect the Hindu girls from being taken as slaves by the Muslims and sold to Middle East market. Other wider connotations of the festival include end of winters or the Paush and onset of Magha (Makkar Sakranti) the following day, during which the sun changes its course of movement.

Still some legends allude Lohri to be Loi, known to be wife of Sant Kabir. From legendary Punjab, the word Lohri is said to descend from LOH, which means Tawa, made of thick iron sheet, which is used for making Chapattis in the Hindu Household. Going further, some legends also speechify that Lohri was the sister of Holika. Holika was destroyed in the Holi pyre, while Lohri survived the pyre.

Lohri is the festival, which is much valued and celebrated with fervor in Punjabi families in general, and Punjab in particular. In the modern style, the festival is celebrated in much a different taste and energy. The festival is also seen as part of rejuvenation and national integration. The basic idea is to make the day full of happiness, thrill and sharing thoughts amongst each other and to give time to listen to each other out of routine busy schedule.

On the day of Lohri, Punjabis love to have their traditional food as Makki Di Roti, Sarson Da Saagh, Bhaley and Dal Makhani. After the dinner is over, people collect and arrange wooden twigs in the shape of the mountain and In the late evening get together to lit the bonfire.

Amidst the frigid wind blowing, it is simply adventurous to go around the bonfire, singing songs; throwing popcorns, peanuts, til and rorhi into the fire. This goes for an hour or two, and after that, people start gossiping about the routine life activities, family issues among other things. Children play around the fire and the parents filled with joyous mood are completely oblivious of all the life tensions.

Lohri, for the newly weds mark the occasion of fertility and zip. On their first Lohri occasion, relatives, cronies and near and dear ones bless the newly wed with happy and prosperous life ahead. It is equally an important occasion for the newborn baby, when the festival is celebrated as First Lohri of the New Born Baby in the Punjabi culture.
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