Lohri

What is the story behind Lohri?

Along with the Lohri being celebrated as an end to the winter season or worshipping the sun and fire god, there is also one story that makes the festival of Lohri more interesting and exciting. The story of the legend Dulla Bhatti. The story of Dulla Bhatti, which includes the two young girls, Sundari and Mundari, harbours significance in the celebration of Lohri. As the folk song is recited, these names have been narrated to remind about the story behind the celebration of Lohri.

Furthermore, the celebration of the Punjabi festival Lohri was started by the legendary Dulla Bhatti, who was there during Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. He was a kind of saviour during those times because he was known for his fearless attitude. Dulla Bhatti was a very generous man who saved young girls from being kidnapped and sold in the Middle East. He used to rescue those girls who used to be poor. He used to get them married to a well-settled man.

So the story of Dulla Bhatti started when he rescued the two girls, Sundari and Mundari and helped them with their daily necessities. Later on, he got them married to a nice Hindu family, ensuring their happiness and well-being. So, the folk songs of the festival of Lohri link the names of this legend to honour his respect and gratitude for the care of those poor girls.

What is the Significance of Lohri?

The festival of Lohri is celebrated as a social and cultural gathering where all the families and friends come together to celebrate the harvest season. This festival is celebrated as a season of fertility and new beginnings. This festival is celebrated to honour the agricultural community who works hard to grow crops and pays tribute to nature's abundance. During this festival, all the people gather by wearing new attire and preparing traditional dishes to make the celebration memorable. Before the celebration begins, people collect dried leaves and twigs for the bonfire.

Moreover, this festival is celebrated in a traditional Punjabi way where people play drums and dhols to add joy and excitement to the celebration. Additionally, during this festival, people collect their old clothes and daily necessities to offer to the underprivileged children as a charity so that they can be a part of the contribution. Moreover, all the farmers and agricultural members gather together to thank and pay gratitude to the Surya God and Agni God for the wonderful harvest.

What are the Rituals and Remedies involved in Lohri?

Some of the main rituals and remedies observed on the day of the Lohri celebration to make the celebration more exciting and filled with zeal and enthusiasm are mentioned below. Read below to learn about the important rituals and remedies of the Punjabi festival Lohri.

Lohri Rituals

• Firstly, before the celebration of Lohri starts, people take a dip in the holy water to cleanse all their impurities.
• On the main day of Lohri, a bonfire is held, so people collect sticks, clothes and fried leaves to burn.
• Offerings are made to the bonfire by chanting traditional prayers and singing folk songs.
• Offerings like sesame seed, Jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn are burned during the bonfire as a thanksgiving to the farmers and agricultural workers.
• Prasad is distributed among the people from the bonfire, which is considered to bring luck and prosperity.
• On the auspicious event of the Lohri, families and friends exchange gifts as a blessing. Moreover, especially the married couples are presented gifts and blessings by the elderly people in the family.
• All the people come together to sing and dance to traditional folk songs. Moreover, Bhangra and Gidda are the most important folk dances performed to add zeal and enthusiasm to the celebration.

Lohri Remedies

• Distributing Til (Sesame) and Gur (Jaggery) to all the family members and relatives is essential to gain luck and abundance.
• You must not waste food during the festival of Lohri because it is a harvest festival where people pray for food grains.
• During Lohri Puja, you can chant the mantra 'ॐ श्री सुर्याय नमः' (Om Shri Suryaya Namah), asking for blessings from Sun God. However, chanting this mantra with faithfulness and focus can improve the spiritual significance of the puja.
• Bonfires are significant during the festival of Lohri, so you must avoid doing any destructive or disrespectful activities around the fireplace.
• On the auspicious day of Lohri, early morning, as the Sun is about to rise, offer water to Surya Dev that can invoke blessings and bring wealth.

Conclusion

As we come to an end, it’s essential to know the importance of the festivals you celebrate. So, if you are someone who is not aware of the significance of Lohri, its rituals, and the story behind the celebration, make sure to read about the significance, story and rituals involved in the celebration of the gowri festival.