Happy Lohri 2021: Here's why we celebrate, significance of the festival

Lohri is like the bell tolling for winter as if it's time to go. It's not only a festival of Punjab, but also it is celebrated in the neighbouring regions.

Team Newsable

Bangalore, First Published Jan 13, 2021, 10:50 AM IST | Last Updated Jan 13, 2021, 10:54 AM IST

Crowds gather around to burn woods to mark the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the happy, sunny days. This year, Lohri will be celebrated on January 13 around Uttarayan and Makar Sankranti. Lohri symbolizes harvesting of crops. The festival is al about warmth, happiness, good food, singing and dancing.

How did the name Lohri derive?
The word Lohri derived from combining two words. Til (Sesame) and Rohri (jaggery), these are the traditional food items which are being eaten during the festival. Earlier in Indian history, people used to wish Happy Tilohri, which then transformed into Lohri.

Significance of Lohri
Lohri is the Harvest Festival of Punjab, it includes prayers and offering to Sun God and Agni (Fire God) as the main crop in the Punjab region is wheat. It is a festival where it brings rich and poor together, and once the fire dies out, the dinner gets served, the crowd's favourite, makki di roti te sarson da saag (cornflour pancakes and mustard spinach) and lassi (buttermilk).

How do we celebrate?
The main event is the bonfire. Generally, families gather around the bonfire to sing and dance and offer their prayers, but nowadays, people just play from Youtube. As for offering, people throw gajak, popcorn, puffed rice, peanuts, rewri as bonfire fodder. There are special songs and folklores connected to Lohri which are being told on this day. Group dances, including Bhangra, Giddha, Kikli are being performed. And, kites are flown with special messages written over it.

Delicacies offered
There are five main items that are offered to Sun God and Fire God, til or sesame and food items made with it, gajak or sweets made of peanuts and jaggery, popcorn or phuliya and moongphali or peanuts. It is said that the flames of the fire carry the prayers and offerings to bring warmth at the planet so that crops can grow.