Lohri, mostly for Sikhs and Hindus, is one of the most celebrated festivals in Northern India. The festival is the precursor of winter crop harvesting time and is greeted with great pomp and entertainment, with vibrantly clad locals singing and dancing high-spirited folk songs.
The Lohri festival is supposed to be celebrated during the winter solstice. Daylight is supposed to increase on the day after Lohri, and people say it brings a good morning of optimism. It is a harvest festival that Sikhs enjoy passionately. It is essentially the Punjab and Haryana Festival. The Lohri festivities begin early in the morning, and people greet each other with great enthusiasm.
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Where and Where is Lohri going to happen?
In 2021, Lohri falls on January 13th. It is related to the calendar of Bikrami, so the date remains precisely the same year after year.
Originally, the night just before the Winter Solstice used to be celebrated, but as of late, the celebrations are held on the day before Makar Sankranti, after the sun goes down. While India’s entire northern part is directed towards Lohri, the nexus is Punjab, Haryana, Patiala, and Delhi. Cities like Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh, with immense joy, usher in the festival.
Significance of Festival Lohri
The festival’s main importance is to commemorate the winter crop harvest and to praise the God of the Light for his return. For an agrarian country like India, harvest and fertility festivals are of specific significance. Lohri, thus, is indicative of the ripening of the crops and the plentiful harvest. Lohri instills people’s attention to their climate and history. Afterward, prasad is spread to loved ones, including jaggery, reverie, gajak, and philia. To seek blessings on this auspicious day, many devotees also visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Dances and Songs
No festival in Punjabi is full without a vibrant Bhangra display. Men dance enthusiastically to the melodies of dholaks, alloys and other traditional instruments, colorfully suited up. Gidda, the feminine equivalent to Bhangra, is done by women, decked out in festive dress and jewels. And if you are not proficient in these dances, the infectious upbeat music is sure to tempt you to join the locals in shaking a knee.
Dance shows and performances are usually performed at public venues such as Amritsar’s Qila Gobindgarh, Ludhiana’s Celestial Palace, and numerous universities and colleges. To get an insight into the local community, several star hotels also arrange certain services for their visitors. However, those projects might not be feasible this year, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
Spirited Kite Flying
Another indispensable aspect of the Lohri festivities is flying kites. It is said that the reason for this is to soak up Vitamin-D in the sunshine. The pleasantly blue January sky, zigzagging around with the cold breezes, is dotted with brightly colored and variously shaped kite sails. Join the high-spirited contests and try the spool with your back.
A Delectable Meal Spread
Nearly every Indian festival has unique treats and sweets of its own, and so does Lohri. Your taste buds will be pleased by the famous Punjabi dish of Sarson da saag of mustard leaves enriched with homemade butter, eaten with Makki ki roti hot from the skillet. Your palate tingling for more will leave the famous Dahi Bhalla chaat.
Songs of Lohri and their importance
In the celebration of the event, Lohri songs play an essential role, as these songs reflect the joy and enthusiasm filled within an individual. Every person celebrating Lohri enjoys these songs. A significant aspect of the event is the music and dance. Such songs are like traditional folk songs sung for a rich harvest and good abundance to thank God. The Lohri songs are also performed to honor Dulla Bhatti, the Punjabi warrior. The program is carried out around the bonfire to dance over the beat of the dhol.
