A Festival of Winter Harvest and Community Warmth
Lohri is a popular winter folk festival celebrated primarily in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It marks the end of the winter solstice and the passing of the coldest days, welcoming the return of longer, warmer days. It is a festival of joy, community, and gratitude for the winter crops.
Lohri is traditionally linked to the harvest of the rabi crops, especially sugarcane. It's a time for farmers to celebrate and give thanks for their produce.
The festival celebrates the end of peak winter and looks forward to the sun's journey northward (*Uttarayan*), bringing warmth and new life.
The bonfire is the central element of Lohri, around which the entire community gathers to sing, dance, and offer prayers.
No Lohri celebration is complete without songs honoring Dulla Bhatti, a legendary Punjabi hero who lived during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is remembered as a local 'Robin Hood' figure.
A Savior of the People
Dulla Bhatti was known for robbing the rich to help the poor. Most famously, he rescued Hindu girls who were being forcibly taken to be sold in the slave markets. He would then arrange their marriages to village boys and provide them with a dowry. The popular Lohri song, "Sunder Mundriye," recounts the tale of two such girls, Sundri and Mundri, whom he saved and married off as their guardian. Singing his praise is a way of honoring his legacy of courage and social justice.
Lohri celebrations are vibrant and community-oriented, with most activities centered around the warmth and glow of the sacred bonfire.
As the sun sets, large bonfires are lit in open spaces. People gather around, offering prayers to Agni, the fire god, for blessings and prosperity.
People circle the bonfire, singing traditional Lohri songs like "Sunder Mundriye" and breaking into energetic Bhangra and Gidda dances.
Harvest foods like sesame seeds (til), jaggery (gur), popcorn, and peanuts are tossed into the fire as offerings, symbolizing the burning of negativity.
Children go from door to door, singing folk songs and collecting treats and money, which is also known as collecting Lohri.
The food of Lohri is centered around the winter harvest. The snacks are warming and energy-giving, perfect for a cold winter's night, while the main feast is a hearty Punjabi affair.