Lohri Festival

• Preparation to celebrate Lohri begins way before the actual festival day. Right through the winter days, village women and children collect dry twigs and branches to make a huge bonfire on the day of Lohri-the bigger the better.

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• On the day of the festival, with the setting of the sun, the bonfire is lit with people singing and dancing to the tune of Lohri songs.



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• The munching of seasonal goodies like popcorn, reori, peanuts and sugar cane forms an integral part of the celebration. Fistfuls of these goodies also find their way into the fire, as an offering to the Sun God, the giver of all life.



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• Interestingly, the next day of Lohri is known as Maghi, a day that signifies the beginning of the month of Magh.

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• According to common belief, this is an auspicious day to take holy dip and give away charity. Kheer is prepared in sugar cane juice to mark the day.

• Lohri is primarily the harvest festival of the Punjabis.

• This festival denotes the harvesting of the Rabi crops and hence all the farmers get together in order to thank god for giving them such a wonderful harvest.

• The rituals related to Lohri symbolize the attachment of the people with Mother Nature. A few days before the festival, youngsters get together in groups and go round their localities singing folk songs.

• Doing this they also collect firewood and money for the bonfire that is scheduled on the night of Lohri. On the special day, offerings of phulley (popcorn), moongphali (peanuts) and rewri (a sweet delicacy made out of jaggery and sesame seed) are offered to the fire

• The men and women go round the fire and bow before it in reverence. Lohri holds special importance when there is a special occasion in the family like marriage or childbirth.

• Like all Indian festivals, Lohri also has some legends and lore attached to it.

• One of the many interesting legends has it that in a place that lies between Gujaranwala and Sialkot, there was a thick forest known as Rakh.

• The forest was the home of Dulla Bhatti, a dacoit who was considered as the Robin Hood of Punjab.

• This brave and generous man was always helpful to the needy.

• During the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, a jealous Hindu spread a rumour that his niece was very beautiful and would do credit to the Muslim harem.

• On hearing this, the Mughal officers wanted to carry her off forcibly. The girl’s father was extremely worried and sought the protection of Dulla Bhatti.

• Dulla at once got her married to a young Hindu boy at a simple ceremony in the forest. He lit the sacred fire in keeping with the Hindu custom.

• Since there was no priest to chant the holy mantras, he broke into a hilarious song composed extempore to add cheer to the occasion. This song is sung even today on the occasion.

India is the "Land of Celebration and Festivities". According to the Hindu mythology, there are 3.3 million gods and goddesses. Lohri is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated to honour Agni (the Vedic god of fire) at the beginning of the year. Every year, on 13th of January (as per the Gregorian calender), Lohri is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur mainly in Punjab, Haryana, parts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. Amidst the freezing temperature accompanied by dense fog and icy winds, North Indians seem to be getting busy with preparations for enjoying the long awaited bonfire festival “Lohri” with traditional folk songs and dances.

    

Religious Fact:

As per the Hindu calendar, in the mid-January, the earth starts its journey towards the sun bringing end to Paush, the coldest month of the year. According to the Shrimad Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna manifests his full divinity during the period of Lohri. A day later, the auspicious Makara Sankranthi helds which marks the end of the winter season. Thousands of Hindus bath in the Ganges to nullify their sins.

    

Social Fact:

Wheat is the main winter crop in the northern parts of India. This winter (rabi) crop is sown in the months of October and harvested in March or April. Farmers and their families celebrate Lohri during January (rest period) before the cutting of crops. Thus, Punjabis and Haryanavis celebrate Lohri as the “harvest festival”. Most farmers from rural Punjab consider the day after Lohri as the starting of new financial year. The Sindhi community popularly call Lohri as “Lal loee”. On the festive day, children request their grandparents and aunties for wood sticks which are burnt in the bonfire.

    

Lohri Loot:

On the morning of Lohri, enthusiastic children dressed in new clothes arrive at the neighbourhood doors singing praise songs on Dulha Bhatti (a legendary Punjabi rebellion alike Robin Hood who led protests against the powerful Mughal emperor Akbar) and asking for generous Lohri ‘loot’ in the form of money and delicacies such as sesame seeds (til) ladoos, peanuts, jaggery, and traditional sweetmeats like rewri, gajak etc.

Bonfire Ritual:

Lohri marks the end of the chilly winter. In the evening, after the sunset, huge logs of woods are gathered and lit in the harvested fields. True-spirited, fun-loving men and women circle around the rising flames, do parikrama (rotate around the bonfire) thrice and toss puffed rice, peanuts, and sweets into the fire, uttering “Aadar aye dilather jaye (May prosperity arrive and poverty fade away!)”. After praying to the fire god (Agni), people meet their relatives and friends to exchange greetings and prasad (offerings made to the fire god). Hindus pour milk and water around the bonfire. This ritual is performed to honor the Sun God for his warm protection. Traditionally, the offering comprises of five main eateries: roasted sesame seeds, jaggery, gajak, popcorn, and peanuts. Then, sturdy, hearty men beat the dhol (traditional drum) announcing the starting of the festivity. Both energetic men and women dressed in colourful ethnic attire perform Giddha and Bhangra (popular folk dances) circling the bonfire.

Welcoming Party:

Many wealthy families arrange for private Lohri celebrations in their houses. Several rituals are performed to rejoice the birth of a baby or arrival of a new bride.

Dining Feast:

Lohri harvest ceremony ends with scrumptious dinner. After merry-making throughout the day, everyone looked forward to the traditional banquet comprising of makki di roti (hand rolled bread made of millet), sarson da saag (cooked mustard greens), and rau di kheer (dessert made of rice and sugarcane juice).

Punjab, Lohri, the bonfire festival of harvest in mid-January, in the month of Magh.Like every festival in India, Lohri is also characterised by exchange of gifts between family and friends. Here at www.dgreetings.com we have a few choice ideas of some fabulous gifts that can be presented to your loved ones.

• Blankets and dresses of the famed Phulkari design of Punjab is a perfect gift for the occasion.

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• A feeding set complete with a plate, glass and spoon, all in silver can be gifted to new born babies.
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• Embroidered and handmade photo frames which will help the couple cherish the growing years of the child.

• Newlyweds setting up homes will welcome gifts of handicrafts like wall hangings, crystal vases, artistic showpieces, and German Silver photo frames.

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• The lady can also be gifted fashion accessory like satin pouches embellished with beads. You can make it a couple gift by adding a good quality leather wallet for the spouse.

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• Jewellery is considered to be the traditional gift of Lohri. Within family newlyweds do get gifted diamond and gold jewellery, but you can also give costume jewellery complete with semi precious stones and which come in artistic and innovative styles.Handcrafted wooden and white metal jewellery boxes also make a perfect gift.

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• The new bride and the groom can be given new clothes. Choose from the ethnic array of suit pieces available for women with designs like phulkari. The new groom can be gifted with a shirt hamper.
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• No matter what gift you are presenting the new couple, do not forget to team it with a box of sweets like rewri and gajak.

• Sweeten the life of your near and dear friends with sweet hampers. You can go in for the same kind of sweet or a variety of them in a singular decorated box. Rewri and Gajak are of course the favourites of the season.

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• You can also gift dry fruit hampers in decorative boxes or satin bags.

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• Artistic Puja Thalis in brass and silver can be gifted. Thalis are also available in terracotta which is very ethnic.

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• Catch up with the times and present your oved ones with electronic gadgets like state of art ear phones, i-pods etc.

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• Fresh flowers arrangements can never go out of fashion. Present your loved ones with an Orchids bouquet.

• You can gift chocolate cakes topped with gajak and til.

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• With the aim of reducing global warming and keeping a green environment in mind, you engage in preservation by planting saplings in your community to replenish the wood burned during the bonfire.

Wishing you all a Happy Lohri!!