Introduction

Lohri is a very important festival in North India. The festival is celebrated on the 13th January every year. It is originally a Punjabi festival though the spirit of the festival encompasses people of all community. This is particularly celebration time for the farmers. Usually the farming lands of the Punjab are overwhelmed with golden harvest of wheat at the time of Lohri. The people celebrate this festival as thanksgiving process to the God.

Celebration

Lohri is a happy occasion for the newly married couples and the first Lohri of the son born in a family. Children, adults and olds all enjoy the fervor of the festival to the fullest. The day starts with the children collecting money from the neighborhood house. They arrange a stage in mid of the open space with dry woods and crackers. In the evening all the member of the family with the people of surroundings gathers round the woods. Winter savories are served at first and the bone fire is lit with songs, music and dance around it. The Munchies collected from the hoses are thrown into the fire.

Festivity

The children go to every house singing in the praise of Dulha Bhatti who is the Punjabi version of Robin Hood. These visitors are presented with money or Gachak, Bhuga, Til, Moongphali, Gur and Rewri. The night is celebrated with Bhangra, Dhol, Gidda and light-hearted flirtation and fun.

Geographical Importance

The earth enters into the Tropic of Capricorn on the following day of Lohri which also mark the beginning of another popular festival of the North India i.e. Makar Sankranti and Pongal in South India.