Lohri – The Harvest Festival Of Punjab
CELEBRATING LOHRI
Lohri is one of the most important festivals celebrated in the north Indian state of Punjab along with some parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. This time in your festival news section we will share the story and history behind Lohri festivals. Although the festival is celebrated with much zeal and fervor by most people in this region, it holds a special significance in household where a recent marriage or birth has taken place. The festival is also believed to mark the culmination of the winter season and the beginning of the spring season. Some Punjabi communities also celebrate the festival as the beginning of the New Year. The lighting of the bon fire with the members of the family surrounding it and offering their prayers is the most significant aspect of Lohri celebrations.
How The Festival Got Its Name
There are several stories about how the festival came to be known as Lohri. According to popular belief, the festival has been named after Loi, the wife of the renowned poet and saint Kabir. Other legend states that the festival gets its name Loh, the traditional appliance used for making rotis during community feasts. It is also said that the festival is named after Holika’s sister Lohri who survived from being perished in fire. It is also said that the word Lohri was formed by merging the words til and rohri, the two most common items that are thrown into the bonfire during Lohri celebrations.
History behind the celebration of Lohri
Although it is belived that Lohri is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in India, there are also various legends associated with it. One of the most popular legends associated with Lohri is that of Dulha Bhatti. It is believed that during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, there lived a brave king named Dulha Bhatti who ruled Pindi Bhattian. He was a robber who stole from the rich and helped the poor with the wealth accumulated in this manner. He rescued the kidnapped girls and also arranged the marriage of young girls by paying the dowry. However, Dulha Bhatti was soon put to death by the Mughal ruler after accusing him of revolting against him. It is believed that the festival of Lohri is celebrated to commemorate the glory of this hero and a majority of Lohri songs are sung in his praise.
Significant Aspect Of Lohri
Lohri holds great significance for a new bride and a new-born baby, especially a boy. Families in Punjab celebrate the first Lohri of the newest members of their family with great pomp and show. A grand feast is organized in which all relatives and friends are invited. The guests bring various gifts and even present cash to bless the new family members. Although traditionally, the festival was celebrated only for the new born sons in the family, in the modern times, people have started extending the trend of feasting and celebration for baby girls as well. This is especially significant in view of the large number of cases of female feticide, within the state of Punjab in general.
Never knew these details about Lohri. I have been listening that in Panjab, people call it Lohri. Good to know about the variations regarding its name.
Happy Makar Sankranti to you!
I never knew much about this great festival. Thank you for putting out the details in this post. It’s such a holy festival.
Wow I didn’t know so much about Lohri. And I definitely am new to the fact that it is related to female feticide in some way. And also glad that people are open to celebrating their baby girls too!
wow.. you always share the history and facts behind every festival. I love celebrating Lohri, the festival of happiness, warmth and revri. Thanks for sharing the post
I hail from U.P and it is celebrated as sankranti/khichdi here. Not a big festival but we make khichdi on that day and give away daal and rice to people. Great to know about lohri.
We had a great Lohri. Mom was here, and the whole family was together after a long time. It was so nice to be all together again, we laughed and joked and ate all of our favorite foods. The highlight of the night was when we all went outside to light the bonfire. We danced around the fire to the beats of Dhol, and heard traditional Lohri songs. It was a magical night that we’ll all remember for a long time.
Awesome post! I loved learning about the Lohri festival and the rich cultural traditions it represents. The history and significance of the festival is truly fascinating. The pictures and details of the celebration really helped me to understand the festival more. I appreciate the effort you put into researching and sharing this information. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into this wonderful celebration.
I am married into Punjabi family and always curious about their culture and festivals. Your article helped me to know about it deeper. Next time definitely i will try to be there to witness the lohri 🥰
I only knew this was a festival during makar Sankranti here in south..but reading the post gave me insights into what it actually is.thank you so much for sharing this
India is rich in its cultures and cultural values. The festivals have different names all across the country but everybody celebrates the festivals even by different names. It’s so informative to know so much about the Lohri Festival.
It’s interesting how each state of India has a unique festival of its own. While most celebrate Sankranti, Punjabis celebrate Lohri. Thanks fot sharing this informative post.
I love the festival of lodhi each state has their own harvest festival it’s so rivetting thank you for sharing this