LOHRI FESTIVAL । LOHRI FESTIVAL PARAGRAPH

 LOHRI FESTIVAL

Introduction :- Lohri, one of the most popular festivals of north India is just around the corner. Celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus, the festival marks the end of the winter solstice and harvesting of the rabi crops. The festival is celebrated every year on January 13 with much enthusiasm and zeal.

Lohri celebrations – History :- Lohri’s origin dates back to the Indus valley civilisation. Since this civilisation prospered in the areas of northern India and Pakistan, the festival is primarily celebrated in a similar manner in those regions. It has various other names in the other parts of India such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Magha Bihu in Assam and Tai Pongal in Kerala.The stories related with Lohri are numerous and are based on religious as well as socio-cultural traditions and events. The most famous and interesting legend behind Lohri is the story associated by Dulla Bhatti. Dulla Bhatti was popular among the poor, at the time of Mughal king Akbar. He used to plunder the rich community and distribute the loot among the poor and needy. This made him famous and revered among the populace. As the legend goes, he once saved a girl from the hands of kidnappers and then took care of her like his own daughter.The other stories say that the word Lohri has come from the root ‘loh‘, which means a big iron griddle or tava on which chapattis are made for community feasts. Another version says that the Lohri word comes from ‘Loi’, who was the wife of the celebrated reformer Kabir Das. Bonfire and festive foods :- Lohri festival is celebrated with bonfires. It is an ancient tradition to light bonfires at this winter festival. The traditional festive sweetener of solid and unrefined cane juice. In Punjab, the crop festival Lohri is marked by eating sheets of roasted corn from the new crop. January cane harvest is celebrated at the Lohri festival. Sugarcane products such as horses are central to the Lohri celebrations, with the seeds planted in January.The other important ingredient of the Lohri festival is radish, which is harvested between October and January. Mustard greens are mainly grown in winter because the crop is suitable for agro-climatic conditions.Accordingly, mustard greens are also a winter product. It is traditional to eat gachac, sarso da sag, Makki di roti, radish, groundnuts, and jaggery. It is also customary to eat “til rice” made by combining jaggery, sesame, and rice. In some cases, this dish is called ‘Tricoli’. Conclusion :- It is a festival of harvest. The festival is celebrated in mid-January in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. It bids farewell to winter and celebrates the arrival of the spring. People believe that after the day of Lohri, the days start becoming longer and the nights shorter.