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Lohri is celebrated on 13th January.
Lohri is celebrated by the Punjabis.
Origin of Lohri
Lohri is celebrated when the earth starts moving towards the sun. This period is called the Uttarayana. Lohri is a very old festival celebrated by the Punjabis and it is as old as the Indian civilization. Lohri indicates that it is the beginning of spring and the ending of winter season. In Punjab Lohri is a cultural celebration on the special eve of winter solstice. However instead of celebrating this on the eve of winter solstice, the Punjabis enjoy celebrating this festival on the last day of the winter solstice, that is Paush. It is connected with the worship of sun and fire. This is observed by all religions in different names.
Significance
Lohri is the festival of harvesting and fertilizing of crops. It has a lot of significance in North India. This festival is very auspicious for the newly married couples and for the new born baby boy of the family. This festival is related to the concept of health and life. Lohri is also linked with energy and religious strength.
Lohri is mainly connected to the popular tale of Dulla Bhatti. Many Muslim robbers used to live in Punjab in the past. Dulla Bhatti was one of them who lived during the age of the Emperor Akbar. He was a rice robber. Besides robbing, he used to rescue Hindu girls and sold them in the market of Middle East. He used to arrange their marriage with all Hindu rituals and provide dowries to them. Due to this he became the superhero of Punjabis.
Celebration of Lohri
This day begins with small children collecting money from their neighbors. In the evening people gather at one place where there is a bonfire. People of Punjab and Haryana celebrate this festival with joy. People lit a bonfire stand. Around this, they sit, enjoy, sing songs and dance. Munchies collected from everybody's house are distributed to all the people present and while going around the bonfire people throw this into the fire. People get dressed up nicely and come near the bonfire. On the eve of Lohri people come together with their family, friends and their relatives. People throw sugar-cane, gur, sesame seeds, rewaries and popcorn into the bonfire; they also sing and dance for long.
People dress up in colorful and bright clothes. Being dressed, they dance their traditional dance form which is called Bhangra or gidda. Lohri, for the farmers is like a beginning of the new financial year. Lori is of great importance for married couples and newborn baby. On this day the newly married bride wear new cloths, bangles, apply mehendi and they try to look beautiful. Even newly married groom wears new clothes with color burans on their heads. Thus the Lori becomes a big celebration for the newly married couple.
Traditional food
Indians are very particular about food dishes they eat. The traditional dishes that are prepared at home during Lohri are- aloo pakora, bajra khichdi, Gobi pakora, kacche kheer ki chaat, make ki roti and mooli ka paratha.
Lohri is celebrated to denote the last day of the cold winter. Lohri is also celebrated in other parts of India with different rituals and customs.
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