Lohri Festival 2023

Lohri is celebrated on January 13th, 2023 every year in the northern regions of India, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. It is a festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season. People light bonfires, dance around it, and offer prayers to the Sun God for a bountiful harvest.

Celebrations

The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor. People wear new clothes, sing folk songs, and dance the Bhangra and Gidda. They also exchange sweets and snacks like gur rewri, gajak, popcorn, and peanuts. The highlight of the festival is the lighting of the bonfire, around which people gather and throw puffed rice, popcorn, and sesame seeds into the flames.

Story and Significance

The festival has its roots in the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi Robin Hood who lived during the reign of Emperor Akbar. He rescued girls who were being forcibly taken away to be sold as slaves and arranged their marriages to suitable boys. He also fought against the Mughal army and was eventually captured and executed. The festival is also associated with the harvest season and is a way of thanking God for the bountiful crops.

The festival is also significant for newlyweds and newborns. It is believed that the first Lohri after marriage and the birth of a child is especially auspicious and is celebrated with great pomp and show.

Spirit of Lohri

The festival is a celebration of the spirit of community and togetherness. It brings people together and strengthens the bonds of friendship and kinship. It is a time to forget differences and come together to celebrate the joys of life. The festival also symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the victory of light over darkness.