Lohri 2024: Know the origin and celebrations of this Harvest Festival

The Punjabi festival of Lohri falls in the chilly month of January It is celebrated in many Indian states It also has an interesting backstory that not everyone is aware ofThe festivals origins can be traced back to the narrative of Dulla Bhatti a famous legendary hero of Punjab who led a rebellion against Mughal emperor Akbar He became a hero for the people of Punjab as a result of his valiant acts and practically every Lohri song contains words of thanks to himThis celebration represents the ripening of winter crops as well as the beginning of a new harvesting season Lohri is all about good food family and friends as well as traditional folk songs and danceEvery year on January 13 Lohri is celebrated It denotes the end of the winter season According to the Hindu lunar calendar Lohri features the longest night before winter followed by the shortest day of the year known as MaghAlso Read Is Lohri on January 13 or January 14 Heres what you need to knowLohri and sugarcane goods go together If you are celebrating Lohri you will consume Gur jaggery and gajjak Radish spinach and mustard leaves Sarson da saag are other crucial additions to the menu and have been a delicacy since ancient times Add Makki di roti and you have a feast to remember In addition to these foods you can have peanuts and til rice which are made of sesame seeds rice and jaggeryLohri is a festival that honours fertility and the joy of living While harvested fields and farms are lit up with bonfires throughout the towns there is much more to it People have been wandering around collecting branches for the traditional bonfire since the frigid winter morningThe youngsters are also involved They walk door to door asking for Lohri Loot and are given money in exchange for dry fruits til sesame seeds jaggery peanuts gajjak or rewari As part of the ritual the interiors of the residences are sprinkled with waterPeople assemble in the evening for Parikrama and they toss snacks such as popcorn puffed rice and rewari onto a bonfire Sugarcanes are also burned as an offering in the bonfire This fills the room with the aroma of burning sugarAside from that they pray to the fire Aadar aye dilather jaye which means May honour come and poverty leave for the fertility of the land and abundant crops They then celebrate by dancing and singing folk musicEveryone dresses up for the occasion and exchanges sweets with one another In addition this is a lucky holiday for weddings and newborns While newlyweds wear jewellery babies perform a ritual where they hold a combLohri is a festival of unity and the bonds people form with friends and family The party begins with the addition of a campfire Have a Happy and Prosperous day this LohriThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever