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Majestic Lohri Celebrations taking place on 14 January! Read More details about this festival.
As per the Hindu Panchang, Lohri will be celebrated on 14 January, 2020. However, since the festival is majorly celebrated on the 13th of January every year, some places are hosting the festivities of Lohri today also. Of all the festivals taking place in the Northern most states of India, Lohri happens to be a prominent one. This festival marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti. Most of the grand festivities of Lohri take place in the states of Punjab and Haryana. However, it is the primal festival of the Punajabi community, but its popularity has increased over the years and the celebrations in the current era are seen unwrapping in several states of the country.
Significance of Lohri
The celebrations usually begin after sunset, during the last night of Paush which also happens to be a night before Makar Sankranti. If we segregate the word Lohri into three parts, then “Lo” in hindi stands for firewood, “Oh” stands for dried cow dung cakes and “Ri” means Revadi or sweets. Readers should also know that this festival was previously known as ‘Tilori’. With the passage of time, it came to be known as Lohri.
Just like the harvest festival Baisakhi, Lohri also has connections with agriculture. During this time only, folks in Punjab start reaping their harvest ready crops. Natives on this day follow the ritual of offering a partial amount of the harvest to the Gods and Goddesses and ask the Lords to bless them with health, wealth and prosperity for the entire year. Apart from this, people also sing songs and dance around the bonfire. The Punjabi warriors also remember Dulla Bhatti while this whole merry making goes on. The night of Lohri is also considered to be the coldest and longest night of the year.
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Punjab’s Hero “ Dulla Bhatti”
The Festival of Lohri also has some mythological associations with regards to Punjab. Some claim it to be true, while others disperse it as a myth. It is believed a youth named Dulla Bhatti used to be a resident of Punjab during the Mughal era, while the reign of Akbar the great was going on. Once, some rich traders visited this place to buy some unmarried girls in exchange for some business goods. This started to keep happening on a regular basis. Once, when such a transaction was taking place, Dulla Bhatti arrived at the prime location and saved the innocent girls from the clutches of those businessmen. Not only this, he also made proper arrangements for their marriage and got them betrothed to Hindu grooms. After this particular incident, Dulla Bhatti was given the title of a ‘hero’ in Punjab. From then onwards, melodious folk songs are being sung in Punjab, in honour of their cultural hero.
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Rites and Rituals of Lohri
As mentioned, Lohri is the prime festival for the natives of Punjab and Haryana, but nowadays, it is celebrated with equal joy and fervour in the other states of India too. However, farmers and other agricultural labourers offer prayers to the Lord wishing wealth and prosperity in abundance.
Let us now have a look at the various events which take place on this day.
- It is believed that young children who pay visits to your house on this day should not be returned empty handed. They should be offered sugar,sesame seeds, jaggery, almonds and other sweets which are also known as Lohri.
- On this day, various folks light bonfires in or near their household complex and distribute “Lohri” (sweets)amongst one another. They also sing songs and perform dances around the bonfire.
- Traditional food items like Makki ki Roti( bread made from Maize) and Sarson ka Saag (Dish made of Mustard leaves) are prepared.
- Kites are also flown in many states of the country.
Lohri Celebrations : Significance of Fire
Fire is an important epitome of the festival Lohri. It is believed that the fire during Lohri is lit in memoriam of Sati, the daughter of King Daksha. As per a mythological legend, Daksha organized a Yajna and the list of attendees did not include his daughter Sati and her husband Lord Shiva. Displeased with her father’s act, Devi Sati went to her father and questioned him, which further enraged Daksha, which is why he started to speak ill about Sati and Mahadev. She couldn’t tolerate this embarrassment and the insults hurled at her husband and ultimately immolated herself in the fire. All hell broke loose for Mahadev when he heard about this and he ordered Bir Bhadra to put an end to the Yajna taking place at the King Daksha’s palace.
We wish you a very happy and prosperous Lohri. Thankyou for staying connected with us!!
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