Introduction
Lohri
is mainly celebrated in the North Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and
parts of Himachal Pradesh. Lohri is celebrated with great joy and fervor
specially among the farmers fraternity as this festival is associated with
the harvesting of the Rabi (winter) crops. The special occasion of Lohri is
enjoyed with the traditional folk songs and dances. Lohri is celebrated by
the Hindus and Sikhs alike.
When Is Lohri
Generally, Lohri marks the beginning of winter, and is celebrated in month
of January (Paush or Magh), usually a day before Makar Sankranti.
Celebrations of Lohri
Lohri is celebrated in various parts of India but in different ways- Pongal
in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and the Sankranti in
Karnataka, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The main attraction of Lohri festival is the traditional bonfire
celebration. In the evening all family members light the up the bonfire and
dance on the Lohri folk songs with great enthusiasm. A puja is also held
with a prayer to Agni, involving parikrama around the fire for abundant
crops and prosperity. Also makki ki roti and sarson ka saag composes the
dinner and til, gazak, gur, moongphali, phuliya comprises the prasad.
On Lohri, womenfolk and children get attention. For a bride, the first
Lohri is extremely important. Children sing and dance asking for the Lohri
prasad.
Significance
For Punjabis, Lohri is more than just a festival, and also an example of a
way of life. The essence of Lohri is celebration of fertility and the spark
of life. An extremely auspicious day, Lohri marks the sun's entry in to the
'Makar Rashi' (northern hemisphere). The period, beginning from 14 January
lasting till 14 July, is known as Uttarayan. It is also the last day of the
month of Maargazhi, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
Related Websites
Lohri Festival
