Social Significance of the Festival of Lohri!

Right amid the freezing weather, with temperatures going down every moment, dense fog settled outside and everything going on for stagnancy, one can still feel a flagrant wave of activity underlying everything in the north of India. People in places like Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, seems busy preparing for the long awaited festival of Loh...ri.  On this occasion of the harvest festival, Lohri, people celebrate the harvest of the winter crop, Rabi, unwind and relax amidst the traditional folk songs and dances of the region, engage in praying and wishing their close ones! This year, Lohri has been celebrated on 13th of January, 2011.

Origin and History of Lohri

The origin of the bonfire festival of Lohri dates back to the story of Dulla Bhatti. A Muslim robber, Dulla Bhat resided in Punjab in the reign of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Apart from robbing the rich people, he also rescued those Hindu girls, who were taken to be sold out forcibly at the slave market in the Middle East. Not only this, Dulla Bhatti also arranged for the marriage of these girls to Hindu boys. Reasonably, although a crook, he however, became the hero of all the Punjabis. So the Lohri songs are meant to express gratefulness to Dulla Bhatti.

Since Lohri is pronounced in rural Punjab as “Lohi”, so according to some, it is believed that Lohri has got its name from Loi who was the wife of Sant Kabir. Others say that Lohri derives its meaning from the word ‘loh’ that is tawa of a thick iron sheet, used for making chapattis during community feasts. Still others say that Lohri and Holika were sisters. While Holika perished in the fire, Lohri survived. Eating of rorhi (jaggery) and til (sesame seeds) on the day of Lohri is though to be essential.  According to some, the words til and rorhi got merged and became tilorhi that eventually over the time got shortened into Lohri.

This festival marks the beginning of the month of Magh (January as per the Gregorian calendar) and the end of winter months that is the final day of Paush.  During this time, the sun also tends to change its path or course. The worship of Fire and Sun is associated with the festival. Although Lohri happens to be the festival of the Punjabis, exclusively, yet it is observed in different parts of India and in different communities by different names. The Lohri in north India corresponds to Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu, Tai Pongal in Kerala and Magha Bihu in Assam.

By mid January, boys in small groups visit houses and ring the doorbells along with the chants of Lohri songs associated with Dulla Bhatti. In return, the boys receive peanuts, crystal sugar, popcorn, sesame seeds (til) or gur and money, by the people. It is considered inauspicious to turn the boys back empty-handed.

The Legends of Lohri

Like all other festivals in India, there are some interesting legends linked to this historical festival of Lohri. Among these, the most significant happens to be the legend of Dullah Bhatti. Lohri is considered to be a very happy and pious occasion for the newly wedded couples and also for the new born babies.

The Legend of Dullah Bhatti

The festival of Lohri is deeply associated with the legend of Dulla Bhatti. Most of the Lohri songs are based on him. It is believed by the people that Dullah Bhatti, the Muslim Robber, once rescued a girl from the cruel abductors and then adopted her. He also made all the necessary arrangement for the marriage of the girl, just the way he would do for his own daughter. This tale comes as a message to the youth, to come forward and protect the sisters or daughters and must punish them who try to dishonor the girls. Son on the day of Lohri, songs depicting Dulla Bhatti’s valor and heroism are sung all across Punjab.

The Legend of the Sun God

Lohri marks the end of the winter season and is therefore celebrated on the final day of the month of Pans. It is believed that a sacred mantra was formulated the forefathers that would protect them from cold. This mantra was believed to be capable of invoking the Sun God to send the people on earth with so much heat that the cold won’t be able to affect them. So in thanks-giving to the Lord Surya or the Sun God, people chanted the mantra by circling round a fire on the final day of Pans. The Lohri fire thus serves as homage to the Sun God.

Just few days prior the festival of Lohri, the village maidens gather and visit every household for collecting cow-dung cake. After a veritable pile of cow-dung cake has been collected, the whole pile is deposited in one of the houses. This is a ritual performed by all the maidens before Lohri, with a valid reason for observing it.

In ancient times, people lit fire to keep the flesh-eating animals away, thereby protecting themselves and their habitations. Each contributed to the fire. The young kids gathered firewood from the nearby jungle. This is the reason why even today, people engage in burning cow-dung cakes, while the young kids go around gathering the cakes. The Lohri bonfire is both a method to protect oneself and also symbolizes the worship of fire.

Celebrations of Lohri Festival

The preparations for the beautiful festival of Lohri start much before the festival. The people in the villages start by gathering branches, twigs, and cow dung while those residing in the towns and cities, collect logs of wood for the bonfire to happen on Lohri. This is the best time to shower love and blessings to the newly married couples and new born babies, by the families, friends and close ones. Seasonal goodies such as dry fruits, patti, revri, peanuts and sugarcane happens to be an essential feature of the Lohri celebrations. While dancing and chanting around the bonfire, people throw the goodies in the fire while. A pudding made of spinach, lentils in sugarcane juice and mustard leaf is made by the women, on this day. It is believed that, this dish purifies and cleanses the body and the blood from inside.

Ceremonies during Lohri include making an image of the Lohri goddess using gobar (cattle dung), which is then decorated and kindled with fire below it. Praises are also chanted. A bonfire is also lighted during the sunset; sesame seeds, rewaries, gur and sugar-candy are tossed in that fire; people sit around the bonfire, chant, sing and dance as well. The dying embers of the bonfire are taken back home by the people. In the village homes of the Punjabis the fire is kept lighted all through out the day and night, by using cow-dung cakes.

On the auspicious occasion of Lohri, people take the opportunity to thank God for the provision, his creation and for offering a bountiful farming or harvest to the people. Men and women are seen keeping up the true spirit of their amazing Punjabi culture, thereby performing Giddha, Bhangra and other Punjabi dances. Children visit every household and sings in order to collect lohri that is eatables and money. Prasad made of til, rayveri, peanuts, puffed rice, gajak, popcorn, and sweets are also distributed. This is believed to be a symbol of prayer to Agni for bountiful harvest, abundant crops, happiness and prosperity.

As lohri comes to an end, people finish off the day by taking pleasure in a traditional feast comprising of makki di roti, sarson da saag and a dessert called rau di kheer (made of rice and sugarcane juice). A large quantity of lip-smacking food is prepared on this day. Some of the special recipes of the occasion are Ganee Ki Kheer, Dry Fruit Chikki, Coconut Chikki, Pinnie, Gajak, Shengdana Chikki etc.

Thus the elation at a bountiful and abundant harvest serves as the reason for celebrating the festival of Lohri. A popular festival in Punjab, Lohri is the time of fairs as well. Several fairs are held at different places. Everyone is greeted with good wishes on the occasion of Lohri.

The day following the festival of Lohri is known as ‘Maghi’. It signifies the commencing of the month of Magh and end of the winters. The Hindus believe that the Maghi day is an auspicious day to take a sacred dip in the rivers, thereby giving away charity. Sweet dishes are prepared on this day. Lohri besides communicating the message of thanksgiving also celebrates the spirit of togetherness, oneness and brotherhood.

Social Significance of the Festival of Lohri!

The Lohri festival bears immense social significance and is observed as a day for imparting social love to everyone. It is the festival to relieve the people from their daily routine, tensions and stress and bring a smile to everyone’s face. Peoples from all caste and creed come together on this day and engage in merry making, leaving behind all the grievances and differences. Every year, the festival of Lohri serves in bridging down the social gap existing among people. People come out of their place, meet people, exchange gifts, distribute sweets and wish each other.

Further, since Lohri happens to be the harvest festival and fertility and harvest bear a great importance for an agrarian nation like India, so Lohri is an important festival from this perspective as well. With Punjab being an agricultural state predominantly, it is no wonder that Lohri is among the significant and major festivals of the region. The festival therefore is symbolic of copious harvest and good crops. It instills within people, a sense of sensitivity for the nature that is the environment and the culture. It upholds the cultural legacy of Punjab. The time is ideal and auspicious for undertaking new ventures or marriage purposes. It is the opportunity for a social integration of the country, thereby bringing out the amity, unity and harmony underlying India and its people.