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Today is Lohri, which is a traditional festival celebrated every year on the 13th of January and is celebrated with full gusto in Punjab. It is a festival that celebrates and marks the agricultural New Year and since Punjab is considered a farming state the day is marked with cheer and fun throughout the state. The festival of Lohri is also celebrated in other parts of North India like Delhi, Haryana etc. They celebrate it as the last cold day of the winter season, because it is usually after this day that the winter begins to subside.
Traditionally on this day children used to sing merry songs and go door-to-door praising Dulha Bhatti, who is thought to be someone similar to Robin Hood in Punjab. The children are given sweets or money in return for singing the songs. These sweets and money that they collect are called Lohri and during the night they are distributed and shared amongst everyone in the family. It is also considered auspicious to light a bonfire and the sacred fire is offered Lohri.
It is celebrated in the open as from the 13th of January it is not too cold. All the family and friends gather around the bonfire and rejoice the occasion. It is a very happy time that is shared with all the loved and dears ones. If there has been a marriage or a baby has been welcomed into a family, it is that family that hosts the Lohri celebration at their home; as it would be first Lohri of that particular member in the family.
When any festival is celebrated in Punjab, you can be sure that there will be singing and dancing. People wear their best clothes and children usually Buy New Warm Clothes for themselves as-well. The night is filled with gidda, boliya and bhangra to the beats of a dhol.
Food is also an integral part of the festival as families cook and bring their favorite dishes and sweets to share with everyone. Most villages in Punjab still keep the tradition alive by coming together and cooking food for the celebrations that will be held in the night.
We at BabyCouture wish you all a very HAPPY LOHRI and wish you all great and wonderful things!
