Know When and Why Lohri is celebrated
Lohri is celebrated on January 13 every year.
About Lohri festival
Lohri is celebrated by Punjabis and Haryanvis with great gaiety. It is celebrated more in the northern province of the country. These days kites are seen all over the country.
Festivals are enjoyed these days with different beliefs all over the country.
Why peanuts and sesame seeds are put in the fire?
The festival of Lohri is traditionally associated with the harvesting of phalal and the sowing of new crops. In the fire of Lohri, things like sesame, rewari, groundnut, jaggery, etc. are offered as ravi’s crop.
According to the beliefs, in this way, gratitude is expressed to The Sun God and Agni Dev that by their grace the crop is good and there is no problem in the coming crop.
Also, this festival is celebrated to welcome new guests coming to the family such as a new daughter-in-law, child, or the harvest that occurs every year.
When Lohri is celebrated?
Lohri is celebrated on the last night of Paush month and till the morning of Makar Sankranti, it is celebrated every year. This year, this festival will be celebrated on January 14 in 2022. Festivals are the pride of India.
Each province has its own special festivals. One of these is Lohri. Lohri is one of the main festivals of Punjab province which Punjabis celebrate with great enthusiasm. Lohri starts several days in advance.
Festivals are celebrated in different parts of the country such as Makar Sankranti in Central India, Pongal festival in South India and Kite Festival is also celebrated in many parts of the country.
Mainly all these festivals are celebrated together with family members, which eliminates mutual enmity.
Why Lohri is celebrated?
Based on the Puranas, it is celebrated every year as the sacrifice of Sati.
According to the legend, when Prajapati Daksha had despised Mahadev Shiva, the husband of his daughter Sati, and by not including his jamata in the yagna, his daughter had dedicated herself to the fire.
The same day is celebrated every year on Lohri as repentance and that is why gifts are given to the married daughter of the house on this day and she is honored by inviting her to food.
In this happiness, makeup items are distributed to all married women.
There is also a historical story behind Lohri, which is known as Dulla Bhatti. This story is from Akbar’s reign, in those days Dulla Bhatti was the chieftain of Punjab province, he was called the hero of Punjab.
In those days there was a place called Sandalbar, which is now part of Pakistan. There was a market for girls.
Then Dulla Bhatti opposed this and respectfully saved the girls from this rape and gave them a dignified life by getting them married.
This victory day is sung in Lohri songs and Dulla Bhatti is remembered.
Due to these mythological and historical reasons, the festival of Lohri is celebrated with gaiety in Punjab province.
Story of Dulla Bhati
The story of Dulla Bhatti is also associated with Lohri in Punjab. On this day, Punjabis traditionally perform bhangra by lighting fire. Sing songs during bhangra and also sing praises to Dulla Bhatti.
In fact, Dulla Bhatti used to help poor people. Once he had saved two orphan sisters from his uncle, who had sold them to the zamindars.
Dulla Bhatti got the two sisters married on the night of Lohri and bid farewell by putting a ser sugar in their bag.
It is believed that due to this incident, people also celebrate the festival of Lohri.
Significance of Lohri
• The festival of Lohri is the sacred festival of the Sikh group and it is celebrated with great pomp in the winter season.
• Sikh communities celebrate this festival with great pomp in other states of India, including other states of India except for Punjab provinces.
• The festival of Lohri develops new energy within the devotees and at the same time infuses a sense of happiness i.e. this festival is one of the major festivals.
• On the day of this holy festival, there is a provision holiday in different states of the country and people make this day memorable.
• On the day of this festival, people make maize bread and mustard greens and eat it and this is the traditional dish of this festival.
• People sit all around by lighting bonfires and then enjoy this festival by eating gajak, peanuts, rewri, etc.
• This holy festival is named after Loi and this name was of the wife of the great saint Kabir Das.
• This festival is celebrated at the beginning of the new year and at the end of winter.
• Through this festival, the Sikh community welcomes the New Year and that is why it is celebrated in an even more enthusiastic way in Punjab.
• Beer holy mountain is very auspicious for farmer brothers and sisters and after the passage of this festival, the work of harvesting new crops is started.
People sing different songs on this occasion. The most famous folk is Sunder Mundriye Ho. Other songs are Lohri Boliyan Harbhajan Maan.