Lohri Traditions and Rituals
The main ritual during Lohri festival include chanting prayers in front of the fire for abundant crops and taking parikramas (three rounds of the pious fire) while throwing peanuts and sweets in the sacred fire. After this ritual ‘prasad’ is distributed that includes mainly six things- sweets like gur, gazak and revdi, peanuts, popcorn and puffed rice.
The first Lohri of a bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely important in India, which calls for a great feast. Lohri celebrations are never complete without music and dance, and feasting is invariably rounded off with a vigorous bit of shake-a-leg. The traditional dinner on Lohri includes appetizing traditional Punjabi food like 'makki ki roti' and 'baajre ki roti' with 'sarson ka saag'.
The first Lohri of a bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely important in India, which calls for a great feast. Lohri celebrations are never complete without music and dance, and feasting is invariably rounded off with a vigorous bit of shake-a-leg. The traditional dinner on Lohri includes appetizing traditional Punjabi food like 'makki ki roti' and 'baajre ki roti' with 'sarson ka saag'.
Lohri History
There is a very old history behind celebrating the Lohri festival. It marks the occurrence of New Year and start of spring season as well as the end of winter season. People believed that the night of Lohri becomes the longest night of the year from then every day starts getting big and nights gets shorter gradually. It is celebrated in the praise of Dulha Batti who was a Muslim robber in the time of King Akbar. He was used to of stealing wealth from rich people’s home and distributing them to the poor people. He was like hero of the poor people and helpless people as he saved lives of various girls who taken away from their home forcibly by strangers. He helped helpless girls in their marriages by paying dowries. So, people started celebrating the Lohri festival praising the Dulha Bhatti for his lots of helps and great works for poor people.
Occurrence of Lohri indicates the movement of sun from South towards North, and enters to Tropic of Capricorn from Tropic of Cancer. Lohri festival is dedicated to the God Sun and Fire. It is one of the happiest occasions for every Punjabi. Sun and Fire indicates the largest source of energy as well as spiritual strength to which people worship to get blessings. People offer some food-offerings to their deity such as peanuts, sweets, popcorn, til-chirva, revaries, gajak, etc. It is celebrated by the people of both religions Sikhs and Hindus.
Occurrence of Lohri indicates the movement of sun from South towards North, and enters to Tropic of Capricorn from Tropic of Cancer. Lohri festival is dedicated to the God Sun and Fire. It is one of the happiest occasions for every Punjabi. Sun and Fire indicates the largest source of energy as well as spiritual strength to which people worship to get blessings. People offer some food-offerings to their deity such as peanuts, sweets, popcorn, til-chirva, revaries, gajak, etc. It is celebrated by the people of both religions Sikhs and Hindus.
