IndiaFolks

This festival is a harvest festival which is celebrated at the time of cutting of the crops and is celebrated in the month of January. It also symbolizes the beginning of the spring. It is celebrated in much gaiety and splendor in Punjab. People pay homage to the Sun God, which shines again after the harsh and cold winters.

History of Bhogi Lohri
It is based on the story of “Dulla Bhatti”. It is understood that Dulla Bhatti was a Muslim robber on the highway during the reign of Akbar. He forcibly rescued Hindu girls and sold them in the Middle East slave market. He arranged their marriages to boys from Hindu families by performing Hindu rituals. Although he was bandit, he became popular among the Punjabis.

Celebration of Bhogi Lohri
For the newly married couple it is a time to rejoice and celebrate. The woman of the house wears salwar kameez made of gold and embroidery. They dress up in bright colors and wear colorful bangles and place bindis (spot) on the forehead. The young couple hold their newly born and dance and sing around the bonfire, which is lit at night or early in the morning hours symbolizing the harvest season. The symbol of Lohri Goddess is prepared from cattle dung, which is used to prepare the bonfire. Firewood is collected from the forest. Families get together around the bonfire and eat peanuts, puffed rice and popcorn and throw them into the fire. Wearing colorful turbans and duppattas they perform the Bhangra and the Gidda style of dance. They sing Punjabi folk songs accompanied by loud beatings of drums.

Rituals of Bhogi Lohri
Singing around the bonfire and wearing colorful clothes symbolizes the onset of spring. Sweets made up of wheat, puffed rice, sugar and dry fruits coconuts are prepared and served to family and friends. The typical Punjabi dinner is made up of makki-ki-roti Multi-millet rolled bread made by hand) and sarsong ka saag( cooked mustard herbs)

The festival is known by different terms in different parts of India. In Andhra Pradesh, it is known as Makar Sanskranti, in Tamil Nadu it is known as Pongal, in Gujarat it is popularly referred to as Sankrant and in West Bengal, it is known as Ganga Sagar Mela.