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A festival denotes the celebration of life. Festivals bring joy, peace and a new tonic of life to the masses. They break the monotony of life. There are numerous festivals across the whole of India. They can be national, religious or seasonal. Among them, Lohri is a popular winter Punjabi folk festival mainly celebrated across Northern India. The main significance and legends about the Lohri background are many and the festival’s core region is based in the Punjab Region. People believe that the Lohri festival marks the winter solstice. It marks the end of winter and is a traditional welcome of longer days to come.
Lohri’s History/Background
European visitors to Lahore mentioned historical references to the Lahore Darbar of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1832. Also in 1844, in the royal court, Lohri celebrated with the making of a huge bonfire at night. Further references were also made by captain Mackenson to distributing clothes and large sums of money as rewards on Lohri.
In royal circles, the Lohri background is not a much-discussed topic but there is multiple folklore about Lohri. According to folklore, Lohri was celebrated when the winter solstice happened. But nowadays it can be traditionally connected with the harvest of rabi crops. It is also the time to harvest the sugarcane crops. After Lohri, the Punjabi farmers see it as their financial new year. That’s why on the last day of the month when the winter solstice happens, Punjabis celebrate it on the last day of the month.
Lohri is now linked with the Vikrami Calendar (A historical Hindu calendar used in the Indian continent) and commonly falls in the month of Paush and falls around 13 January of the Gregorian calendar.
Celebrations
The festival is marked by the lighting of bonfires, eating festive food, dancing, collecting gifts and whatnot. If there is a marriage or childbirth in a household, the level of excitement rises to another level and people forget every foul and foe in their way. North Indians mostly do private celebrations in their houses. Lohri rituals are performed with different steps of enjoyment –
Bonfire and Festive Foods: From history to today’s time, Lohri is celebrated with a bonfire. The lighting of a bonfire is an ancient tradition. In Punjab, Lohri is marked by eating roasted corn from the newly grown harvest. The sugarcane harvested in the month of January is celebrated in the Lohri festival. Gurh, Gachak (Sugarcane products), nuts which are mainly harvested in January. Mustard greens, radish, Gajak (confection or dessert originating in northern India), Sarson da saag (popular vegetarian item of Northern India) with Makki di roti, groundnuts and jaggery are some of the most popular food items that are heavily consumed by the people during this festival. Til rice, sesame seeds, puffed rice and sometimes “Tilcholi” add new flavor to the festival.
Chajja dance and Hiran dance: In Jammu Lohri is special because of various additional traditions associated with it like Chajja making and dancing, Hiran Dance preparing Lohri garlands. Young children prepare peacock-like replicas which are famously called Chajja. Somewhere in Jammu, a special Hiran Dance is performed. Selected houses which have auspicious ceremonies prepare amazing food items. On Lohri day, Children wear special garlands made of garlands, dry fruits and candies.
Collecting Lohri items and trick or treating: In Punjab, there is a popular “trick or treat” activity which is engaged in by boys to select a group member to tie a rope around his waist and smear his face with ash. Somewhere around this festival, they also collect items such as grains and jaggery which are sold and the sale proceeds are divided. The boys generally sing Lohri songs asking for Lohri items. If not enough is given, the householder is given an ultimatum to either give more or to face bad consequences. Overall, it’s a festival where people amend each and every
Celebration Area
It is quite evident from all aspects that Lohri is celebrated to denote the last of the coldest days of winter. The festival has been held with gaiety and grandeur in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir since the Mughal era. In the Sindhi community, this festival is observed as Lal Loi.
Conclusion
A festival is always marked by joy and peace through different kinds of emotions, mostly happiness and Lohri is no exception to this. Somewhere it is celebrated on a special night, somewhere it is celebrated for a week. As the festival is highly celebrated throughout the historical era, its significance has been to another level. People do dance, they eat, send gifts money, wear new attires just to celebrate this one special day and it is very much important for us to behave in a desirable way and celebrate this festival in maintaining peace, harmony, fraternity, good relations etc. We should wish everyone a very cheerful and blessed Lohri.
