Lohri – The Harvest Festival

Lohri is a fun-filled festival full of life and energy and is mainly celebrated as a harvest festival. The festival marks the end of winter and the upcoming spring. Bonfires are lit, and traditional songs and dances accompany the fire in the evening. Lohri is celebrated mostly in the Northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. This North-Indian festival coincides with Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Magha Bihu in Assam and Tai Pongal in Kerala.

Punjab is the breadbasket of India where wheat is the main winter crop. It is sown in October and harvested in March or April. In January, the fields come up with the promise of a golden harvest, and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops.  People come out of their homes and celebrate the harvesting of the winter crops and give in to relaxing and enjoying the traditional folk songs and dances.

A festival dedicated to fire and the sun God, Lohri is the time when the sun transits the zodiac sign Makar (Capricorn) and starts moving towards the north. This is referred to as the sun becoming Uttarayan in astrological terms. The new arrangement is believed to lessen the ferocity of winter and bring warmth to Earth. The festival is observed to ward off the biting cold of January by lighting bonfires and dancing around it in a mood of bonhomie. One can correlate fire with the concept of life and health. It is a symbol of transformation and regeneration. Fire is related to rays of light on one hand and gold on the other hand since it is the representative of the sun. People believe that the fire is capable of stimulating the growth of cornfields and the well-being of man and animals. Lohri fire gets sanctified and venerated like a deity becauseeing it is an image of energy and spiritual strength. People offer peanuts, popcorn and sweets like til ladoo, chirva, gajak etc. to the fire to proliferate it as a symbol of the Sun God.

Lohri Date 2024

In 2024, Lohri will be celebrated on 14 January.

Historical and Mythological Origins

Several of the origin stories for Lohri include:

Dulla Bhatti

The Dulla Bhatti legend is a major theme of Lohri’s songs. Dulla Bhatti lived in the Punjab state while Akbar was emperor. He was regarded as a hero in the Punjab. Poor girls from the Sandal Bar neighbourhood who were being kidnapped to be sold as slaves in the Middle East were saved by him.

Loi

Some people believe that the word “Loi” is where the name Lohri comes from. Saint Kabir’s wife was Loi.

Loh

Some people believe that the word “Loh” is where the term Lohri comes from. A fire’s warmth and light are referred to as loh.

Significance of the Lohri Festival

The Lohri festival is essential as it signals the end of winter and the harvest of the rabi crops. People revere the sun and the fire and thank them for the abundant harvest. Every community celebrates the day under a different name.

The first Lohri symbolises fertility, which is highly fortunate for a newlywed couple and a newborn child. The festival is quite significant to farmers as well. The kite celebration, Makar Sankranti, comes after Lohri in the month of Pausha, according to the Indian calendar.

Lohri is an auspicious day, and you can also perform puja on Lohri for personal reasons. Performing Satyanarayan Puja on this day can be very beneficial for you. Puja on Lohri is a method to connect with the almighty and ask for blessings. It is a moment to rejoice in life’s blessings and to make wishes for the future. You can book a pandit to perform all kinds of Puja. We are a religious platform that allows you to book pandits and other religious services online. Our Puja packages are affordable and customisable. You can select from several puja packages based on your requirements and spending limit.

Traditional Customs and Practices

• The Lohri celebrations focus on bonfires, which provide warmth and cheer throughout the chilly winter nights.
• Huge bonfires are lit, and people congregate around them in vibrant clothing in the evening.
• People enjoy singing and dancing around the fire during Lohri and throwing things into the flames, such as popcorn, peanuts, and Rewari.
• Folklore and particular songs are sung together at Lohri.
• Children are known to sing songs praising Dulha Bhatti as they roam about in the community.
• On Lohri, people fly kites with Happy Lohri messages.
• On Lohri, group dances are particularly special. Men and women practice the Punjabi traditions of Bhangra, Jhoomer, Giddha, and Kikli.

Lohri Delicacies

• Preparation and significance of traditional foods:
  • Makki di roti (corn bread) and sarson da saag (mustard greens): The traditional Punjabi cuisine of makki di roti and sarson da saag is. It is created with salt, water, and maise flour. The ingredients for Sarson da saag are mustard greens, onions, and seasonings.
  • Gur (jaggery), til (sesame seeds), and mungfali (peanuts): Three classic Indian dishes—gur, til, and mungfali—are frequently consumed together. Gur is a kind of unrefined sugar derived from the juice of sugarcane. Sesame seeds are til, and peanuts are mungfali.
  • Puffed rice and popcorn: Popcorn and puffed rice are two common snacks in India. Under high pressure, rice grains are cooked to produce puffed rice. The result is that the rice grains swell and become airy and light. Corn kernels are heated till they pop to create pop.
  • Sweet dishes: Pinnie and Chikki: Indian sweet foods like Pinnie and Chikki are well-liked. Jaggery, ghee, and wheat flour are the main ingredients of the dessert known as pinnie. Chikki is prepared with peanuts, jaggery, and other ingredients.

Celebrations Across Different Regions

• Lohri in Punjab: The grandeur and epicentre of Lohri celebrations are in Punjab. Singing, dancing and eating traditional Punjabi food like makki di roti and sarson da saag are all done around bonfires. The traditional Punjabi dance known as Bhangra is enthusiastically performed during Lohri.
• Observance in Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu: Although Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu all similarly celebrate Lohri, each state has its special customs. For instance, as a symbol of warding off evil spirits, people toss wooden sticks into the campfire in several Haryana villages. The festival of Lohri is known as Maghi in Himachal Pradesh, where people light bonfires with tilgud. People in Jammu and Kashmir celebrate Lohri as Lohri or Khichari and add popcorn and peanuts to the blaze.
• Similar festivals in other Indian states: Other Indian states celebrate Lohri under different names, including Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Bhogali Bihu in Assam. All of these celebrations are held to commemorate the passing of winter and the start of the harvest season.

Conclusion

Lohri is a famous winter harvest festival celebrated enthusiastically in North India, especially in Punjab. It is a time for joy, celebration, and community. Lohri marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and it is also a time to celebrate the harvest season.

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