Lohri Bonfire – The Flame of Warmth and Friendly Spirit
A traditional folk festival of joy, Lohri, that commemorates the passing of the Winter Solstice, is the first of India’s rich and diverse melange of festivals to be celebrated with great pomp and energy across different regions of the country in the new calendar year. The word Lohri is derived from two words til (sesame) and rorhi (jaggery), which are traditionally eaten during the festival. The terms til and rorhi together used to sound like 'tilohri' earlier in history, gradually morphing into the term ‘Lohri’. Lohri is considered especially auspicious for the newlywed couples and parents with newborn babies. Unlike most festivals in India which witness people visiting family and friends and distributing sweets etc., Lohri celebrations are marked by people gathering at a common place and set up a huge bonfire with various kinds of sweet delicacies like gajak, popcorn, puffed rice and others being offered to the fire as ‘tributes’ to the Gods in exchange for blessings.
The top highlight of the festival remains the Bonfire and out of the various folklores associated with it, the most prominent one remains that of Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim bandit, who rescued Hindu maidens from being sold as slaves to the Middle East during the era of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Not only this, he would get them married to Hindu boys in the presence of this sacred fire and sing songs in celebration. Two maidens named Sundri and Mundri, who were so rescued are included as part of Lohri folklore, Sunder Mundriye. The song hailing this hero and his brave feats is being sung even today, the dance in his honour is being performed even today around the bonfire and the flames that erupt on this day carry the messages and prayers of the people to the sun God to bring warmth and friendly spirit to the planet and end the days of gloom and cold. The Lohri, thus, signifies the discarding of old ideas, notions, and thoughts and the welcoming of new and good thoughts, prayers, and wishes to all those near and dear to you.
Dr. Pawan Suri
Director & Chief Cardiologist
Global Hospital, Jalandhar
Email: psuricardio@gmail.com
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