Lohri — the harvest festival — commemorates the passing of the chilly winter winds and the return of longer days full of bright sunshine.
Lohri — the harvest festival — commemorates the passing of the chilly winter winds and the return of longer days full of bright sunshine. Not surprisingly “fire” in the form of bonfire forms the central theme of the Lohri celebrations. The word loh means the light and the warmness of fire represents energy and spiritual strength. It is a festival celebrated by all faiths and regions, especially the northern states.
Lohri is associated with the harvest of the rabi crops and the next day, Magh, is the day of the new financial year. Hence, Lohri plays a very important role in the life of a farmer when new agricultural deals are finalised. Though the festival is celebrated by every household, but the ones with newly-married couples or newly-born babies celebrate it with a greater gusto. During the daytime children go from door to door singing songs like Sunder Mundriye... Ho! Tera kaun vicharaa... Ho! Dullah Bhatti walla... Ho! and children are given sweets and money. In the evening, people light a bonfire and offer jaggery, corn and peanuts to the fire. People go around the fire, singing and dancing. Bhangra, gidda and the beats of the drum charge the atmosphere with joy and happiness. It is traditional to offer till, gachchak, gur and phulley (popcorn) to people as well as to fire. It is like showing gratitude to the almighty and seeking blessings from him and the people.
Lohri coincides with the festivals of Pongal, Bhogali, Bihu and Bhogi. In Andhra Pradesh, the day preceding Makar Sankranti is called Bhogi. Like Lohri, people light a bonfire with logs of wood, unused old furniture and other useless things. Discarding of old things and focusing on new things symbolises change and a new beginning. It also means saying goodbye to bad habits and thoughts. Bonfire is a medium to show a cycle of transformation and purification.
Lohri is celebrated on the last day of Poh and the next day is Makar Sankranti for Hindus and Maghi for Sikhs. It is traditional for all Punjabis to eat rice made in boiled milk and sugarcane juice. There is a saying in Punjab, “Poh ridhi, Magh khadi,” meaning kheer is boiled on the last day of the month of Poh (Lohri) and is eaten on the first day of the next month of Magh. Maghi is celebrated by Sikhs in memory of martyrdom of Chalis Mukte (40 immortals) at Muktsar. The Sikhs visit gurdwaras and listen to Gurbani.
It is customary to take bath at a religious place to cleanse oneself of all sins. But the Guru says, “People take bath on the first day of Magh, you should take the bath of the service of the God; in holy congregation remember God’s virtues, listen and give discourse of them to all.” People purify themselves by baths in the month of Magh, but those are truly purified who follow the true path. The 40 immortals were the true Sikhs who had sacrificed their lives for a cause. In the memory of their sacrifice, a large fair is organised on the day of Maghi at Muktsar. Various events are held like kabbadi, wrestling and kite flying, etc.
Maghi and Lohri both signal an arrival of the new. It is believed that a good Lohri signifies a good and prosperous year ahead. Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology at Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, Delhi University
