Lohri, a traditional festival in Punjab, marks the culmination of the Poh month in the Punjabi calendar. Celebrated with enthusiasm, it includes bonfires, peanuts, popcorn, dhol, revdi, and lively folk songs. Sugarcane products, and various food items add flavor to the festivities.
Folklores and Legends
Several folklores surround Lohri. It is commonly believed to celebrate the winter solstice, with the day after Lohri known as Maghi Sangrand, symbolizing longer days. Dulla Bhatti, Punjab’s Robin Hood, is another legend, inspiring many Lohri songs. He rescued Punjabi girls during Mughal rule, a tale embedded in cultural celebrations.
Preparation and Harvest Association
Traditionally linked with rabi crop harvest, Lohri sees youngsters gathering wood for bonfires. In some areas, grains and jaggery are also collected. The festival resonates with the rural tradition of community participation.
The Celebration Day
Falling around January 13, Lohri involves children singing folk songs, going door to door, and receiving sweets or money. Bonfires are lit at sunset in public spaces, around which people gather, offering peanuts and sweets to the fire god. The first Lohri of a bride or newborn is significant, marked by a lavish feast and gift-giving.
Dinner and Traditional Food
The traditional dinner features Punjabi delights like ‘makki ki roti’ or ‘baajre ki roti’ with ‘sarson ka saag.’ The celebration includes singing, dancing, and prayers for abundant crops until the bonfire extinguishes.
Legends and Name Origins
The festival is said to derive its name from ‘loh,’ signifying the warmth of fire. Legends include Loi, the wife of Saint Kabir, and the survival of Lohri with Prahlad. Eating sesame seeds and rorhi on Lohri is considered essential. The festival coincides with Pongal, Bhogali Bihu, and Bhogi in different parts of India.
Rest of India and Similar Festivals
In Andhra Pradesh, the day before Makara Sankranti is Bhogi, focusing on discarding old items in a bonfire symbolizing change. This ritual represents realization, transformation, and purification of the soul in the fire of Rudra’s knowledge, known as ‘Rudra Gita Gyana Yagya.’