First Festival of 2021, Lohri

Lohri 2021: Significance, History And Importance.

Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu the list is never ending, when we talk about Indian festivals; each with their own regional significance as Indians love festivals and they keep us motivated throughout the year.  the first festival of 2021, Lohri is primarily celebrated by Sikh and Hindu communities in the north Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu. The lunisolar Bikrami calendar determines that every year on January 13 the festival is celebrated with all zeal and much enthusiasm.

The origin of the festival is tracked back to the tale of Dulla Bhatti, a legendary hero of Punjab who rebelled against the Mughal emperor Akbar, robbed the rich and rescued poor Punjabi girls who were taken to the slave market to be sold forcibly. Lohri also marks the harvesting of the rabi crops and an end to winter solstice which consists of longer days and shorter nights. The festival of Maghi known as Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 by Hindus following the festival of Lohri. The Hindus on this day go to a sacred water body to wash and exonerate themselves of all their sins.

Lohri is commemorated by torching up a sacred bonfire which symbolizes fertility, auspiciousness and good luck. For the new born baby and newly wedded brides this festival is considered very auspicious. People dress up in vibrant colors, socialize, sing and dance around the fire and pray to the Sun deity (Surya) leaving all the differences in the past and begin fresh. In the month of January sugarcane is harvested and for the festival most of the food products are made from it when the sugarcanes are transformed into jaggery. Products like gachak, rewaries, and chikki are the main sweets of the Lohri celebrations along with nuts and sesame seeds (til). The dinner highlight served on Lohri is makki ki roti and sarson ka saag.