The festival of Lohri marks the commencement of harvest season. It is celebrated a night before Makar Sankranti also known as Maghi at some places. This festival marks the end of the winter season and a fresh beginning to the coming year. The festival is observed in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and other North Indian states. Lohri is celebrated every year on January 13, in the month of Paush. It is majorly celebrated across India by Sikh and Hindu communities. It is observed to mark the harvest of the popular Winter crop of North India which was sown in the month of October. Lohri the Festival of Sundar Mundariya: All you need to know
Lohri is known as Lal Loi and is also called Lohi in Punjab. The festival is celebrated by bonfires at night. This marks warmness and light. A popular belief which revolves around this festival is that it has the longest night of the year also known as the Winter solstice.
People celebrate it by paying respect to "Agni" by taking several rounds around the bonfire places in the center. While taking rounds they put Rewari, popcorn, and gajak in the fire as a part of the ritual. They pray for the upcoming year and also thank the Lord for the abundant harvest of the year. It is celebrated by traditional food(Makki di roti and Sarso Da Saag), songs, and dancing their hearts out to enjoy the joy of this festival. People wear beautiful bright-colored clothes and perform bhangra in a circle around the bonfire place.
Earlier children used to go from house to house singing Lohri songs and were in return handed over with Rewari-peanuts, popcorns, sweets, and money as a small token of love by elders in the joy of the festival. Gurh and Gajjak are the two most famous sugarcane food products of this festival.
Loh in the name of the festival signifies warmness and light produced by Fire(Agni). This festival also marks the togetherness of family. People gather at a common place and set up huge bonfires to celebrate it.
A Legends's attribute is also celebrated at this Festival. Dhulla Bhatti, also known as Abdullah of Pindi Bhattian was a heroic figure in Punjab who rescued young girls to be forcibly taken and sold to the eastern markets. Among the several girls saved by the local hero of Punjab, two were Sundari and Mundari; both of them have now become a part of a popular theme song of this festival. He also arranged the marriage of poor girls and provided them with the dowry.
People enjoy and sing their hearts out loud with the enchants of the popular song of the festival- Sunder mundriye ho! Tera kaun vicharaa ho! Dullah Bhatti walla ho! Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
