Jan 13, 2021- Lohri Festival
The harvest festival of Lohri is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Sikh and Punjabi community. Check out dates and celebrations for Lohri festival in 2021.
Lohri Festival – Lohri, is a festival known for its feisty celebrations
among the Punjabi community. It is, in essence, a deep veneration of
nature gods for a bountiful harvest. Most popular in the agricultural
belt of India namely, the Punjab, it has spread its wings to neighboring
regions such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Delhi. Lohri
festival in India celebrates the harvesting of rabi crops with a major
ceremonial ritual of bonfire. Falling in mid-January, the auspicious
occasion of Lohri coincides with the onset of ‘Magh’ month, which
commences just a day after Lohri. This is also the time when people take
a dip in the holy waters or water springs to welcome the month of
‘Magh’, hoping for an auspicious start. Besides, Lohri festival also
marks the end of harsh winter, when the sun commences its movement in
the favourable northern direction. Coincidentally, it is at the same
time that regional harvest festivals such as Pongal, Makar Sankranti and
Bhogali Bihu are held in different parts of the country with equal
fervour.
When is Lohri in 2021
When:
January 13 (Wednesday), 2021
Lohri celebration in India
Lohri is not about reaping the fruits of labour, it also
acknowledges the elemental forces, mainly fire. The fire is supposed to
douse sadness and renew happiness in one’s life. Thus, it is a
favourable time to take a breather from farming work and enjoy the rich
crop of harvest.
During Lohri festival, the Punjabi community participates with full
zeal and enjoys this occasion with full rustic fanfare. As exuberant as
its people are, it very much reflects in their worship rituals. The
entire activity is centered around a huge bonfire that is lit up amidst
robust drum beats and a constant streaming of people. The sight of
brightly attired and turbaned men and children breaking into the
energetic ‘Bhangra’ and ‘Jhoomer’ dance forms, and decked up women doing
‘Gidda’ dance around the bonfire is mesmerizing. While zealous
participation and energetic atmosphere marks the evening, Lohri starts
on a festive note even as excited groups of children scramble in
familiar neighborhoods collecting sweets like gajak, rewri and jaggery
and generous amounts of charity money in the morning.
In Himachal Pradesh, Lohri or Maghi Fair is held during this time which
breaks the monotony of mundane life and allows people to step into the
new season after the crippling cold winter.
Lohri Rituals
In the evening, the front open space or even the courtyard of houses is
prepared for bonfire. Family and friends do a ‘parikrama’ or circling
around the bonfire as they make offerings of jaggery, sesame/til,
peanuts, puffed rice and popcorn. The lighting of fire after sunset and
song and dance ritual around it reinforces the importance of fire in
farming. The echoes of “Aadar aye dilather jaye” reverberate
throughout this Lohri ritual, as people pray for honor and abundance to
reflect in their economic and family life. The legend of Dullah Batti is
recounted on this occasion, whose deeds of chivalry are crystallized in
the form of folk songs. People pay homage to his magnanimity and
consideration for the poor, as the legend goes that in the 16th-century
during the reign of Akbar, Dullah Bhatti stole from the wealthy only to
help the poor and arranged marriages for girls boycotted by society.
After this, they greet each other, and offer ‘prasad’ of til, jaggery,
peanuts and popcorn in a simplistic ritual that brings people of the
community together. Their most savoured dish comprising ‘Makki-di-roti’
and ‘sarson-da-saag’ is offered as main course to guests. During Lohri,
a new bride or a new born baby is showered with blessings as well as
gifts. The new mothers receive new clothes and jewellery.
The message and essence of Lohri
The convivial atmosphere during Lohri festival sets the mood for
blending in with close relations and friends. The festival and the
jovial Lohri celebration give everybody a chance to widen their horizon
and social circle. The sense of camaraderie among men and women folk is
seen throughout the festival preparation and participation. On the
whole, Lohri fosters a sense of fellowship, celebrates oneness and
encourages people to rise above personal differences.
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