Lohri Festival

                  

                                      LOHRI

        Mid winter festival, Celebration of Winter Solstice.

LOHRI Gurumukhi is a popular winter folk festival celebrated primarily in the Indian Subcontinent on January 13th. The significance and legends about the Lohri festival are many and these link the festival to the Punjab Region. It is believed by many that the festival marks the passing of the winter solstice.

 Lohri marks the end of winter, and is traditional welcome of longer days and the sun,its journey to the northern hemisphere by Hindus and Sikhs in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent. It is observed the night before Makar Sankranti, also known as Maghi.

On this day, traditionally, bonfires are lit in the yards after the weeks of Rabi Season work,socialized around the fire, sang and danced together as they marked the end of winter and the onset of longer days.The bonfires at night, distribution of sweets, groundnuts, and jaggery mark the celebrations of the day.

A popular folklore links Lohri to the tale of Dulla Bhatti Jatt. The central theme of many Lohri Songs is the legend of Dulla Bhatti jat who lived in Punjab during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. he was regarded as a hero in Punjab, for rescuing Hindu Girls from being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. Among those , he saved were two girls Sundari and Mundari, who gradually became a theme of Punjabi folklore.

Lohri marks the beginning of the harvest season and sunny days.

So on this occasion,

Let the enlightening Bonfire illuminate all the darkness and sorrows of your life and refill it with the warmth of love, care and happiness.