In some rural areas, Lohri is also known as Lohi.
According to the Hindu Vikrami calendar, Lohri is celebrated a day
before the Makar Sankranti festival.
Several people believe that the word Lohri origin from the name of Saint
Kabir's wife Loi.
The word "loh" is a part of Lohri, and a Loh means
flame.
As you know it is the popular festival of Sikh community, so celebrate
in the whole Punjab with full enthusiasm, except Punjab lohri is also
celebrated with excitement in Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
You must also know that lohri is also enjoyed in Jammu state since
Mughal times.
Why do people celebrate Lohri:
There are some reasons to celebrate lohri festivals.
Indian history indicates that during the 19th century, the winter crops
revenue was collected on the day of lohri. So it is also a celebration of the
winter crop season.
People have different faiths and beliefs about Lohri celebration.
Most commonly it is said that this festival is celebrated like the
ceremony of the passing winter solstice.
People of some cultures worship the Lohri as a Goddess and make a sculpture of a goddess with the cattle dung.
Some people believe that Lohri is the indication of the end of the winter season.
In the ancient era, it was said that Lohri is celebrated for the winter crops and the deity Sun. In the traditional song of Lohri, there are some lines which denote the thanksgiving to the Sun for warmth.
Some people say that Lohri is related to the fiction of the "Dulla Bhatti". In the ancient time of Mughal Emperor Akbar, there lived a legend named 'Dulla Bhatti' in Punjab. He saved the Hindu girls from abducting, so as his heroic acts made him an idol. The traditional Lohri song includes the name of Dulla Bhatti.
Festivity and traditions:
Lohri is enjoyed with a bonfire. This is a tradition. Even you can say that the bonfire is the soul of lohri. No bonfire means no lohri. That holy bonfire is also considered as the God of fire.
It is also a tradition to put some eating items like popcorn, moongfali,
revari, puffed rice in that bonfire to worship the goddess lohri and this is
called the 'bhog' to the God of fire. People take rounds (traditional name;
feri) of that lighting bonfire and prays for wellness and believe that it
brings happiness and prosperity in their life. All wishes for health and wealth
in the family.
It also signifies the passing of the old year and a new start of the
next Hindu year from the Makar Sankranti.
Gur (jaggery), revari, gazhak, tilpapdi, moongfali (peanuts), popcorn, sarso saag, makki roti, makhana kheer are the famous eating products and winter food items on lohri.
Some people dance, sing the traditional lohri songs and cheer the festival. People sit around the bonfire and take its warmth. The gathering of many relatives, buddies, companions rejoice the whole carnival and fulfil the happiness in environment.
Some people make the lohri goddess from the dung and decorate it. Put it
near the bonfire and chanting its appreciation.
In some areas of Punjab and Rajasthan and Haryana, some people celebrate
lohri to welcoming a newly wedded bride and newborn baby.
In some regions, it is also a tradition to dance with 'chhajja' and move
one house to other particular houses to enjoy the festivity and distributes the
sweets and other food items.
Some Hindus celebrate lohri in different rituals. They poured the raw milk and water around the bonfire, takes round and thank the deity Sun for its warmth and liberty. They pray to Goddess Lohri and God of fire to seek wellness, fitness, prosperity, success and good fortune to their family.
Generally, people arrange the programme of lohri at the open place like ground, road and roof, but some people privately celebrate the lohri in their own houses without any gathering of people. Without any dance or music, just by lightning the small bonfire. They sit around the bonfire and warms their hands and eat some items.
Generally, lohri is celebrated after sunset, but at some institutions and schools, a large gathering of people celebrates lohri at the day time.
Lohri rituals:
To wish the lohri, people say to each other 'happy lohri'.
On the day of lohri, people give some sweets, gazhaks, revari etc. to
their near and dear.
Parents also send the food items and sweets box to their married
daughters.
Rajasthani Folk song of lohri is-
Lohri lohri lakri,
Jiye thari bachdi,
Bachdi me toto,
Jiye tharo poto,
Pote ki badhai aai,
Lohri cham cham kardi aai.
Punjabi folk song of lohri is-
Toda!
Tode upar saag,
Saag!
Saag vich mirch,
Mirch!
Mirch lage kodi,
Deyo saanu lohri.
Another song is-
Sundriye mundriye ho!
Tera kaun vichara ho,
Dullha Bhatti wala ho,
Dullhe di dhee vyahi ho,
Ser Shakkar payi ho,
Kudi da laal patakha ho,
Kudi da saalu pata ho,
Saalu kaun samete!
Chacha gaali dese!
Chache churi kutti,
Zamindara lutti,
Zamindar sudhaye,
Bam bam bhole aaye,
Ek bhola reh gaya,
Sipaahi fer ki le gaya,
Bhanvey ro te bhanvey pitt!
Saanu De de lohri, Teri jeeve jodi.
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