Happy Lohri

Lohri is a seasonal cum traditional festival, celebrated by the Punjabi community of South Asia in the month of January of every year. It is considered as the longest night and the shortest day of the year. This festival is linked with the harvesting of the Rabi crops and it is a suitable time to harvest sugar cane crops. The festival is well known by the harvest festival in Punjabis. There are many people in the India who think that the name “Lohri” is originated from the word called Loi, wife of Saint Kabir, but some people believe that this is generated from the word “Loh”, an iron pan used for making food in different areas.

It is a time, when the assiduous farmer of Punjabi communities welcomes the day after Lohri as a new financial year. However, the Lohri festival is not only celebrated in the state of Punjab but also observed in many places of the India like Haryana, Delhi, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Lohri festival is a mark of winter solstice, happiness, wellness and goodness for all people and celebrated with various traditional activities like Bhangra, Gidha, Boli etc.

In India, Lohri is a festival of happiness and prosperity which is celebrated by lighting the bonfire. On the pious day many people pray to “Lord Agni” or God of Fire to give them bright future, healthy environment and sufficiency of crops and prosperity. During the day people do Bhangra dance, cultural programs, gidha and sing the Holi song (Dulla Bhatti Wala) in the huge gathering.

On the Lohri, children visit to the neighborhood houses to collect the “Lohri Bunch” that includes different types of sweets, snacks, revdi, gajak, moongfali, money and much more. Many people send Lohri best wishes messages, greeting cards, sweets and gift items to each others.