Lalit Gupta
Coming at the height of winter and ushering new foods and fruits of the season, the festival of Lohri has its roots in age old folk religion in which respect to the seasons and the natural elements of fire, wind, water and the earth is very important.
Falling on January 13 this year, Lohri heralds the waning of winter and beginning of summer. This traditional belief is rooted in the scientific fact as geographically speaking the earth leans towards the sun along the Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rekha) from the day following Lohri, also known as Winter Solstice. The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun along its elliptical orbit, thus heralding in the onset of spring.
Marking the end of winter on the last day of Paush and beginning of Magha (around January 12 and 13) when the sun changes its course, Lohri is associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities.
It is this transition which is celebrated as Lohri in northern India, Makara Sankranti in the central part of the country and as Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh, Bihu in Assam and Pongal-Sankranti in South India.
Legend of Lohri
There are various interesting folk stories and legends associated with this festival. One such legend popular in Punjab and Jammu is recapped in folk songs that relate to Dulla Bhatti, who lived in Punjab during the reign of Akbar. Dulla Bhatti was regarded as a hero in Punjab who besides robbing the rich, rescued poor Punjabi girls, being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East from the Sandal Bar (a region bordering Jammu between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Pakistani Punjab). He arranged their marriages to boys and provided them with dowries. Amongst them were two girls Sundri & Mundri have gradually become theme of Lohri folk song. Since then this hero is remembered each year on Lohri and the traditional song is sung as a tribute to this hero:
Sunder Munderi hei!hoi
Tera kaun Bechara!hoi
Dullah Bhattiwala!hoi
Dullah di dhi viyahi!hoi
Ceremony: One of the essential features of Lohri is the worship of fire. The focus is on the bonfire. The Lohri fire gets sanctified and it is considered a representation of energy and spiritual strength and is lit during the festival in every household. There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. The prasad comprises of five main items: til (sesame seed), gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup), gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts) and popcorn. This symbolises a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity. This festival is also believed to burn all the moments of sadness and brings in warmth of happiness and love.
Celebration: Lohri, a festival of joy and fun is celebrated with great fervour and festivity throughout Jammu region as elsewhere in northern India. Significance of Lohri is no more restricted to celebration only but also implies a kind of wonderful break for people to rejuvenate themselves from their chores and come together to relive the old customs and rejoice in reiteration of cultural values. It is customary to exchange Lohri wishes to celebrates the spirit of festivity.
In Jammu, the Lohri celebrations have witnessed a sea change since last four decades. The age old popular practice of group of young men from each mohalla, accompanied by beautifully crafted Chhajja, an artistic presentation of a dancing peacock, and dancing in gay abundance on deafening beats of drums and used to visit homes of relatives and friends especially those with a newly-wed couple or a newly-born male child collected offerings in cash and kind—–has totally disappeared.
Instead the Lohri celebrations have been reduced to people sending personalized Lohri greetings and fancy gifts to their dear ones, the fascinating Lohri messages and lovely Lohri SMS of ‘Happy Lorhi.
Today Chajjas are part of Duggar culture’s history. But on Lohri day, one can still find groups of children carrying small triangular Chajjas singing Lohri songs and collecting gifts from people including cash which is later divided amongst the members of the groups.
First Lohri: The festival assumes greater significance if there has been a happy event in the family during the elapsed year, like the birth of a male child or marriage. The first Lohri of a bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely auspicious.
Kudiyein Di Lohri: Recently there is a growing trend to celebrate the first Lohri of newly born girl child also. This mirrors phenomenal change of social mindset in giving equal importance to the female child. The new value system under which daughters are considered no less than boys has found a befitting expression in Lohri celebrations.
Festivities: Many days before Lohri, the streets witness rush of people eagerly buying from shops, stalls and rehris, seasonal specialties like, moongphali, gajak, til, popcorns etc.
On the day of Lohri, apart from the animated groups of young children who get money and eatables as gifts, in the late evening, the people irrespective of caste, creed or faith gather round the bonfire and do traditional dances and sing songs of joy. Logs of wood as piled up together for a bonfire in a busy chowk or a street corner and the people indulge in singings songs and dancing which symbolizes a prayer to Agni (Fire God) for abundant crops and prosperity as this festival is also associated with the harvest season. Many groups also sing songs and dance to the tune of drums.
Lohri in other parts of the Country:
Lohri coincides with festival of Pongal in the South, Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and Sankranti in the central part of the country. Modes of celebrating Lohri are also different, but the message conveyed by the festival, that of setting aside differences and rejoicing by celebrating the end of the harvest season and the chilly winter is the same everywhere .
Uttarayan: Celebrated all over Gujarat, Uttarayan is traditionally believed to be the starting point of the sun’s northward journey, is celebrated according to the solar calendar on 14th January. The distinguishing feature of Uttarayan in Gujarat is the flying of kites by people of all ages. The sky is enlivened by kites of different colors and hues. Kites soar in the sky, their lines moving as if alive. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other, and delicious fly The International Kite festival is also held as part of Uttarayan celebrations at Ahmedabad. Pongal: In south, Pongal is a festival when god is praised with a simple faith and sincerity. Old vices are all washed out and all that is good is welcomed in this New year. This festival is of all living things, who look up to the heaven in joy and thankfulness to God for everything that He gives to man specially peace and happiness and the feeling of brotherhood.
Makar Sankranti : Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the Sun’s northward journey. Makar is called Capricorn in the western astrological calendar. Makar Sankranti falls on 14th of January every year.
Bihu/Bohaggiyo Bhishu: Bihu is the most important non-religious festival of the Assamese people. People of this state observe it every year irrespective of their class and caste.
One of the most famous festivals of India, it is held on the Ganga Sagar Island, at the mouth of the river Hooghly in Bengal. It is attended by thousands of pilgrims every year. A dip in the water at this place, during Gangasagar Mela, is considered to be extremely sacred. On the day of Makar Sankranti (January 14), when the sun makes a transition to Capricorn from Sagittarius, it is said that the bath becomes a holy source of salvation.
Social Significance of Lohri: Apart from religious importance, the festival of Lohri holds a great social significance. On this day people from all castes and creeds forgetting old animosities and ill will greet each other, visit houses of relatives, neighbors and friends and exchange sweets and gifts. This not only strengthens bonds of love and happiness but also provides an opportunity for social interaction, togetherness, amity and integration.
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