Lohri

Throughout the winter, popular Lohri celebrations are held primarily in northern India. Many legends and interpretations of the Lohri festival connect it to the Punjab region. The festival is often interpreted as marking the end of the winter solstice. To celebrate the end of winter, the start of longer days, and the return of the sun to the northern hemisphere, people in the northern section of the Indian subcontinent observe Lohri. It is observed the night before Maghi and always falls on January 13 in accordance with the lunisolar Punjabi calendar.

Holiday

In the Indian states of Punjab, Jammu, and Himachal Pradesh, Lohri is a recognised holiday. Although it is not a gazetted holiday, the festival is observed throughout Delhi and Haryana. Sikhs, Hindus, and anyone else who wants to enjoy themselves celebrate the holiday in each of these locations. It is not officially observed in Punjab, Pakistan, however Sikhs, Hindus, and some Muslims celebrate the event there, as well as in the cities of Faisalabad and Lahore. Former Faisalabad Arts Council director Muhammad Tariq thinks it’s crucial to preserve the event because Lohri is observed in both Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab.

Time

Lohri, which is observed the day before the festival of Maghi and is based on the Punjabi calendar. The lunisolar Punjabi calendar’s solar component determines Lohri’s location in the month of Poh; it often occurs around 13 January in Gregorian calendar years.

Background & origins

Lohri Fire Pit

European guests to Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Lahore darbar, including Wade, who visited the Maharaja in 1832, speak of Lohri. On Lohri Day in 1836, Captain Mackeson wrote about Maharaja Ranjit Singh giving out suits of clothing and significant amounts of cash as awards. In the royal court in 1844, Lohri celebrations included building a huge bonfire at night.The winter solstice has been confirmed to have occurred. It honours how the days become longer as the sun advances more north. The day after Lohri is marked as Makar Sankranti.

Significance

The festival’s historical significance stems from its connection to the Punjab region as a celebration of the winter agricultural season. A well-known urban legend connects Lohri to the story of Dulla Bhatti. The history of Dulla Bhatti (Rai Abdullah Bhatti), whose father was a zamindar who lived in Punjab during the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar, is the main subject of numerous Lohri songs. In Punjab, he was revered as a hero for saving Punjabi females from being taken against their will and sold as slaves in the Middle East.Two girls named Sundri and Mundri were among those he saved; over time, they were recurring figures in Punjabi legend.While visiting homes as part of the festivities, kids sing “Dulla Bhatti” in the traditional Lohri folk songs. One person sings the song, ending each line with a loud “Ho!” in unison. After the song is over, the adult of the house is expected to offer the young singers some refreshments and cash. The start of the harvest season and sunny days coincide with Lohri.

Celebrations

The celebration includes lighting bonfires, eating celebratory food, dancing, and exchanging gifts. In houses that have just experienced a marriage or a delivery, the amount of excitement surrounding Lohri celebrations will increase. Most North Indians usually spend Lohri at home alone, in private. Rituals for Lohri are performed to special Lohri music.

Dance and singing are an essential component of the festivities. Folks arrive to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol whilst dressed in their brightest attire. There is singing in Punjabi, and everyone is happy. For a Lohri supper, the main entrée is typically sarson da saag and makki di roti. Yet, Lohri is also celebrated by those who live in cities because it gives them a chance to spend time with their loved ones

Fireworks and holiday fare

To celebrate Lohri, a bonfire is lit. Lighting a bonfire during this winter festival is a long-standing tradition. Ancient people lit the bonfire to rekindle the return of longer days. This practise has a very lengthy history. A traditional Punjabi custom for the harvest festival Lohri is to consume sheaves of roasted corn from the most recent crop. The sugarcane harvest starts in January with the Lohri festival. The festival of Lohri is not complete without the nuts that are collected in January and sugarcane products like gurh and gachak. The other important food item for Lohri is radish, which can be harvested between October and January.Mustard greens are typically grown in the winter since the crop does well in the agro-climatic conditions. Thus, mustard greens are a winter vegetable as well. Traditional accompaniments to Makki di roti, radish, crushed nuts, and jaggery include gajak and sarson da saag. Consuming til rice, which is made of puffed rice, sesame seeds, and jaggery, is also traditional. In certain places, this cuisine, which is more of a snack, is known as tilcholi.

Area of celebration

It is celebrated on Lohri, the last of the coldest days of the winter. The occasion has been celebrated in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir since the Mughal era. The holiday is known as Lal Loi in the Sindhi culture.