Lohri festival is a well-renowned harvest festival celebrated in North India, especially in Punjab. According to the Hindu Solar Calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Paush (around 13 January) and is celebrated a day before Makara Sankranthi. Lohri festival marks the sun's entry in to the northern hemisphere.
A festival dedicated to fire and the Sun God, Lohri denotes the end of winter on the last day of Paush, and beginning of Magha (mid January). Lohri Festival coincides with Pongal Festival in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Bengal and Kerala, Magha Bihu in Assam and Thai Pongal in Kerala. This year, the date of Lohri Festival is on 13 January 2022.
Lohri Festival Traditions
Lohri is not only a function but also an occasion for people to get together with friends and relatives. People light up the harvested fields and front yards with flames of fire. They throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, sing folksongs and exchange Lohri greetings.
After the crack of dawn, children visit every house by singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who is said to have robbed from the rich and helped the poor. They are given money as they knock on doors, and in the evening, people gather around bonfires.
The Bonfire Customs
During the Lohri celebrations, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses. This custom is a kind of prayer to Lord Agni, the God of fire, to bless the land with wealth and prosperity. People then meet friends and relatives, exchange gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to God). The prasad comprises of five main items, namely, til (gingelly), gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup), gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts), and phuliya (popcorn). They serve winter savories around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-ki-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-ka-saag (cooked mustard herbs).
Lohri dances are performed on the day. Male dances include Bhangra, Jhoomer, Luddi, Julli and Dankara. Female dances are Giddha and Kikli.
Significance of Fertility
Lohri is also a festival that celebrates the first marriage or birth of the male child in the family. On the day, the new-born baby sits on the lap of his/her mother and the relatives shower their blessings. Afterwards, the family members shake their leg around the bonfire by singing traditional songs and by performing certain rituals. In the same way, the newly wed couples receive blessings of elders from the family.
The Maghi Day
The next day of Lohri, known as Maghi, denotes the beginning of the month of Magh. The day is marked by preparing Kheer in sugar cane juice. It is also an auspicious day for the Sikhs in commemoration of a battle. The forty immortals who were the followers of Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Guru of Sikhism) and who died in his defense are revered during the day.
--
You might also be interested in
Lohri SMS Messages
--
Lohri Festival Traditions
Lohri is not only a function but also an occasion for people to get together with friends and relatives. People light up the harvested fields and front yards with flames of fire. They throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, sing folksongs and exchange Lohri greetings.
After the crack of dawn, children visit every house by singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who is said to have robbed from the rich and helped the poor. They are given money as they knock on doors, and in the evening, people gather around bonfires.
The Bonfire Customs
During the Lohri celebrations, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses. This custom is a kind of prayer to Lord Agni, the God of fire, to bless the land with wealth and prosperity. People then meet friends and relatives, exchange gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to God). The prasad comprises of five main items, namely, til (gingelly), gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup), gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts), and phuliya (popcorn). They serve winter savories around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-ki-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-ka-saag (cooked mustard herbs).
Lohri dances are performed on the day. Male dances include Bhangra, Jhoomer, Luddi, Julli and Dankara. Female dances are Giddha and Kikli.
Significance of Fertility
Lohri is also a festival that celebrates the first marriage or birth of the male child in the family. On the day, the new-born baby sits on the lap of his/her mother and the relatives shower their blessings. Afterwards, the family members shake their leg around the bonfire by singing traditional songs and by performing certain rituals. In the same way, the newly wed couples receive blessings of elders from the family.
The Maghi Day
The next day of Lohri, known as Maghi, denotes the beginning of the month of Magh. The day is marked by preparing Kheer in sugar cane juice. It is also an auspicious day for the Sikhs in commemoration of a battle. The forty immortals who were the followers of Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Guru of Sikhism) and who died in his defense are revered during the day.
--
You might also be interested in
Lohri SMS Messages
--
Comments
Post a Comment