Lohri: The Festive Bonfire
 As
the silent wisps of winter fade away the northern parts of
India celebrate the departure of winter on the auspicious
festival of Lohri. Lohri is
celebrated on the 13th day of
January in the month of Paush or Magh, a
day before Makar Sankranti. For Punjabis, this is more
than just a festival, it is also an example of a
way of life celebrating fertility and the spark of
life. People gather round the bonfires, throw sweets, puffed
rice and popcorn into the flames, sing popular songs and exchange
greetings.
This day also holds special significance for children as they
are given the responsibility of collecting the wood for the
bonfire. They sing traditional songs
as they go from house to house collecting wood, money and
offerings. The first Lohri of a bride is celebrated with great
exuberance in the family. Also the first Lohri of a newborn
baby, whether a girl or a boy, is celebrated grandly.
The
focus of Lohri is on the bonfire.
The traditional dinner with makki
ki roti and sarson ka saag
is quintessential. The prasad comprises of five main things:
til, gazak, gur, moongphali and phuliya.
There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolises
a prayer to Agni, the spark
of life, for abundant crops and prosperity.
An
extremely auspicious day, Lohri marks the sun's entry in to
the 'Makar Rashi' (northern
hemisphere). The period, beginning from 14
January lasting till 14 July, is known as Uttarayan.
It is also the last day of the month of Maargazhi, the ninth
month of the lunar calendar. The
Bhagawad Gita deems it an extremely sacred and auspicious
time, when Lord Krishna manifests himself most tangibly. And
so, across India, people celebrate the month and the prodigious
harvest it brings - Pongal in Tamil
Nadu, Bihu in
Assam,
Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and
the Sankranti in Karnataka,
Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh.
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