Lohri festival is one of the popular festivals celebrated by people Punjabi’s. This festival is celebrated on the evening of January 13th every year. The festival started in the state of Punjab and now it is celebrated throughout the entire nation and outside wherever Punjabi’s are.
Tradition
While celebrating Lohri, all family members light a bonfire and sit around it. The festival starts when all the family members form a circle around the bonfire and begin revolving around it. This revolving of the members around the bonfire is known as ‘Agni Ke Phere’. While moving around they murmur a specific Mantra known as ‘Gayatri Mantra’. With each round, they put a mixture of edible elements on the bonfire. As each round is completed they put the mixture in the bonfire by loudly saying ‘Swaha’ while sacrificing. This sacrifice is known as ‘Aahuti’. This process is repeated 7 times.
Kids and Family Members’ Celebration
After doing this ritual, kids dance around the bonfire and sing and play with each other. Since the weather is quite cold in this season everyone enjoys it well. The family members sit together around the bonfire and they sing, talk, and have fun while eating gajak, moongphali, and rewari. This remaining stuff is known as ‘Prasad’ and is treated with respect considering it as the fruit from God (Agni Deva).
Celebration of Lohri Festival by Newly Wedded Couples and their Family Members
In Punjabi families, Lohri is a crucial festival and people enjoy celebrating it. In Indian culture, marriage is treated as a spiritual act and the newly wedded wife is assumed as a blessing from God. Newly wedded couples celebrate Lohri by giving huge parties. Guests are invited and a proper arrangement is made for dance and dinner. After celebrating Lohri, i.e. after ‘Agni Ke Phere’ and ‘Aahuti’, all the guests give the newly wedded couples their blessings and good wishes along with gifts. Kids sing and dance around the bonfire and everyone enjoys the evening of Lohri.
The tradition of Lohri is quite old but even today it is celebrated with the same respect and eagerness by all Punjabi families around the globe. The season when this festival comes is winter and the atmosphere is chilled. So everyone likes to sit near the bonfire. This makes them feel comfortable and relaxed.
