The origins of Lohri are many. Many people believe the festival began as a celebration of the eve of the winter solstice.
]Lohri and winter solstice
| Lohri |
|---|
Lohri Bonfire |
| Observed by | Punjabis, and other North Indians |
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| Type | Seasonal, traditional |
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| Significance | Midwinter festival |
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| Date | 13th January |
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| Celebrations | Bonfire, song and dance( bhangra ) |
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| Related to | Sankranthi
Pongal
|
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Indian origins
Lohri is the Punjabis' and Dogras' cultural celebration on the eve of the winter solstice. However, instead of celebrating Lohri on the eve of winter solstice, Punjabis celebrate it on the last day of the month during which winter solstice takes place, Paush. This is due to linking Lohri to the Bikrami calendar.
According to folk lore, in ancient Punjab Lohri was celebrated on the eve of winter solstice day. It is for this reason that people believe the Lohri night is meant to be the longest night of the year and on the day after Lohri, day light is meant to increase.
However, scientifically, the shortest day of the year is around December 21–22 after when the days begin to get longer. Accordingly, winter solstice begins on December 21 or December 22 and Lohri ought to be celebrated a day before winter solstice.
[edit]Link to Makar Sankranti
With the formulation of the Bikrami calendar, Lohri has been twinned with the Hindu winter solstice festival of Makar Sankranti which relates to the Sun's entry into the new sign, Makar. Hindus pray to the Hindu Sun God, Ravi on Makar Sankranti which is meant to be celebrated on winter solstice day.
Due to the link of Lohri to the Bikrami calendar, the true origin of Lohri has become blurred. People often say that Lohri must be celebrated on the last day of Paush but also refer to Lohri day being the shortest in the year. This creates confusion when explaining the significance of Lohri as two festivals with different origins have become linked as they both relate to the winter solstice.
]Seasonal festival
Punjabis, irrespective of their religion, continue to practice their Punjabi Folk Religion. Respect to the seasons and the natural elements of fire, wind, water and the earth is very important. Lohri is a festival dedicated to the end of the Winter season whereas Teej (known as Teeyan in Punjabi) is dedicated to the rain/Monsoon season and Basant is dedicated to the Spring season.
]Lohri and harvest festival
Lohri is traditionally associated with the harvest of the rabi crops.[1] People take peanuts, rewri, flour, butter and various food items to places of religious worship to thank God for a good harvest.
]Lohri and the financial new year
Punjabi farmers see the day after Lohri as the financial new year.
Over time, people have associated Lohri to the tale of Dulla Bhatti.[2] The central character of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who had converted from Sikhism and lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. He was regarded as a hero in Punjab. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Sikh and Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. He arranged their marriages to Sikh and Hindu boys with rituals and provided them with dowries. So every other Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti.
Dulla Bhatti was a rebel whose lineage was of Bhatti Rajputs converted to Islam often by force. His anscestors were the rulers of Pindi Bhattian in Sandal Bar area of present day Pakistan. He was a hero of all Punjabis and his var (life story) is available on the internet.[3]
]Other legends of the origin of Lohri
]Loi
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Some people believe that Lohri has derived its name from Loi, the wife of Saint Kabir.
]Loh
There is a legend amongst some people that Lohri comes from the word 'loh', a thick iron sheet tawa used for baking chapattis for community feasts.
]Holika, Lohri a
nd Prahlad
According to another legend Holika and Lohri were sisters. While the former perished in the Holi fire, the latter survived with Prahlad.
]Til and rorhi
Eating of til (se
same seeds) and rorhi (jaggery) is considered to be essential on Lohri day. Perhaps the words til and rorhi merged to become tilorhi, which eventually got shortened to Lohri.
]Date
According to the Bikrami cal
endar, Lohri falls in the month of Paush i.e. around 13 January, as per the Gregorian calendar. It is, actually, celebrated a day before Makara Sankranthi, as it marks the end of the winter season. The sun usually enters the Nirayana Makara rashi(Capricorn) on January 14 (99% of the time). However, there are times when the sun could enter the zodiac a day before or a day after January 14. Regardless, Lohri is still celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti. Makara sankranti marks beginning of the solar maagha masa, and Lohri must be celebrated on the last day of the solar Dhanur masa, which also marks the exit of the sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius).
]Ceremony
During the day, children go from door to door singing folk songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti. These children are given sweets and savories, and occasionally, money. Turning them back empty-handed is regarded inauspicious.
The collections gathered by the children are known as Lohri and consist of til, gachchak, crystal sugar, gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Lohri is then distributed at night during the festival. Till, peanuts, popcorn and other food items are also thrown into the fire.
The bonfire ceremony differs depending on the location in Punjab. In some parts, a small image of the Lohri goddess is made with gobar (cattle dung) decorating it, kindling a fire beneath it and chanting its praises. In other parts, the Lohri fire consists of cow dung and wood with no reference to the Lohri goddess.
The bonfire is lit at sunset in the main village square. People toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries on the bonfire, sit around it, sing and dance till the fire dies out. Some people perform a prayer and go around the fire. This is to show respect to the natural element of fire.[4] It is traditional to offer guests til, gachchak, gur, moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Milk and water is also poured around the bonfire by Hindus. This ritual is performed for thanking the Sun God and seeking his continued protection.
People take dying embers of the fire to their homes.]
Celebrations
Punjabi woman waiting to participate in Gidda
While Lohri is essentially a Punjabi festival, it is celebrated in some other states of North India as well. In cities like Delhi, which have a predominant Punjabi population, Lohri is celebrated to denote the last of the coldest days of winter. Apart from Punjab, people from other northern Indian states of Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu, become busy making preparations for Lohri.
In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement. Punjabis usually have private Lohri celebrations, in their houses. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs.
Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. Punjabi songs are sung, and everybody rejoices. Saron da saag and makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner. Lohri is a great occasion that holds great importance for farmers. However, people residing in urban areas also celebrate Lohri, as this festival provides the opportunity to interact with family and friends.
]Lohri songs
By the end of the first week of January, small groups of boys go ringing doorbells and chanting some kind of doggerel with each line ending in “ho”. Lohri songs are rhymed nonsense, at times very funny.[5] For example:
Saalee paireen juttee
Jeevey sahib dee kuttee
Kuttee no nikalya phoraah
Jeevey sahib da ghorah
Ghorey uttay kaathee
Jeevey sahib da haathee
Haathee neh maarya padd
Dey maaee daanya da chajj
(My sister-in-law has slippers on her feet/ Long may live the master’s bitch./ The bitch developed a sore/ Long live the master’s horse/ The horse has a saddle/ Long live the master’s elephant/ The elephant let out a loud fart/ Hey old woman, give us basket full of popcorn)
Also every other Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti (the 'ho's are in chorus):[6]
Sunder mundriye ho!
Tera kaun vicharaa ho!
Dullah Bhatti walla ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser shakkar payee ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saalu paata ho!
Salu kaun samete!
Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti!
Zamindaar sudhaye!
Bade bhole aaye!
Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahee far ke lai gaya!
Sipahee ne mari itt!
Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jodi!
(Cry or howl!)
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pitt!
Translation
Beautiful girl
Who will think about you
Dulla of the Bhatti clan will
Dulla's daughter got married
He gave one ser of sugar!
The girl is wearing a red suit!
But her shawl is torn!
Who will stitch her shawl?!
The uncle made choori!
The landlords looted it!
Landlords are beaten up!
Lots of simple-headed boys came!
One simpleton got left behind!
The soldier arrested him!
The soldier hit him with a brick!
(Cry or howl)!
Give us Lohri, long live your pair (to a married couple)!
Whether you cry, or bang your head later!
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