लोहड़ी LOHRI 13/14.01.2023
Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
'लोहड़ी दी लख लख वधाइयाँ' `Lohri Di Lakh Lakh vadhaiyaan’
Pic Lohri01 Lohri fire
Lohri is a popular winter folk festival celebrated primarily in the areas of erstwhile Punjab, the land of five rivers (Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab), Rajasthan; and Jammu, and Western Uttar Pradesh; and in parts of Pakistan (Punjab province). The Sindhi community celebrates it as Lal Loi. It is also celebrated by the Punjabi diaspora.
Lohri is celebrated on the night before Makar Sankranti. According to the lunisolar Vikram Calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Paush (पौष), first month of the Calendar. It is one of the few festivals which falls on the same date every year (January 13/14).
On Sankranti, there are celebrations for Bhogi, Ghuguti, Khichidi Sankranti, Magh Bihu, Maghi Saaji, Maghi Sangrand, Makar/ Mokor Sankranti, Poush Sankranti, Pongal, Sakrat/Sakraat/Sukraat, Uttarayan, all symbolising unity in diversity, but not in a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all.
Lohri marks the traditional welcome of longer days and the Sun's journey to the northern hemisphere, which starts on December 21/22 of the year, but on Lohri day is felt stronger. It marks commencement of the waning of winter.
Lohri symbolising fertility is also considered auspicious especially for newlywed couples and parents of newborn babies, for whom it is `Pahli Lohri hai, `पहली लोहड़ी है.’ People greet each other as 'लोहड़ी दी लख लख वधाइयाँ' `Lohri Di Lakh Lakh vadhaiyaan’
A story related to Lohri, can be traced back to the tales of Dulla Bhatti, a third generation rebel against Mughal emperor Akbar. Bhatti’s are fierce Rajput’s in the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim religions. Dulla Bhatti rescued poor Punjabi girls, who were forcibly sold in the slave market. The heroic deeds of Dulla Bhatti are recounted in folklore, but not in `recorded history’. His valour is reflected in the most popular song `सुंदर मुंदरिए - हो’ (Sunder mundriye ho) as `दुल्ला भट्टी वाला-हो’.
The word Lohri is derived from two words til (sesame) and rorhi (jaggery/gur), which are traditionally eaten during the festival to give warmth to the body. The terms til and rorhi together used, sound like 'tilohri' in the past, gradually changing to ‘Lohri’.
Til seeds in Ayurveda are known for their ability to generate heat and energy in the body, and for beauty and benefits to the hair. Til seeds are full of nutrition, making it a special food for winters.
Pic Lohri02 Til (Sesame) plant
Traditionally gur was used as a sweetener in kheer, payasam and other sweet preparations, with benefits such as managing diabetes, treating cough, promoting weight Loss, boosting digestion, alleviating acidity, reducing anaemia, cleaning intestinal worms.
Til and Gur Preparations
To keep warm and healthy, til and gur preparations are made and consumed on Lohri. These include Gajak, Revri, Phule (popcorn), Moongphali (groundnut), Patti (mainly of moongphali and gur; but also made with other ingredients like roasted chana dal).
PicLohri 03 Till (Sesame) Laddos
Each of the above products has variants and have important production towns, that need to be GI (Geographical Indication) tagged, to promote them and the products. Some of the major centres for production are Lucknow and Meerut (in Uttar Pradesh), Morena (in Madhya Pradesh), Bharatpur (in Rajasthan). A suggestion to the readers is to drive down to the closet town and purchase the products, to taste an unadulterated and original version.
Gajak and Revri are a dry sweet prepared through a slow, labour intensive process, from til (sesame seeds) and gur and has variants in terms of ingredients and shape. The ingredients include different proportions of the sweetener (sugar and gur); til seeds are replaced with other seeds; dry fruits are also added in the upmarket preparations. Gajak comes in small rectangular, flat/round, cylindrical round shapes.
PicLohri 04 Gajak -flat round
Roasting of Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) is done in a large कड़ाही (Cauldron), filled with sand, and with wood as fire. The warm and freshly roasted Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) taste different and have an aroma of sand in them.
Moongphali (groundnut) Patti is another sweet that is prepared and eaten during lohri and the winter months. Moonphali patti is different in form, preparation, taste and texture from Chikki, which has Lonavala, near Pune, as the main centre.
PicLohri 05 Moongphali (Groundnut) Patti
Village folk gather around large, common fires to celebrate the passing of the winter solstice, symbolising assimilation of all sections of society. They enjoy the warmth of burning logs of wood. The fire is lit with the adding of til (sesame), gur/jaggery, groundnut, (and products made from the them), gajak, revri, patti, laddo and popcorn as offering, followed by dance and singing around the fire. People mix the same (til and gur and related products) and exchange with friends. Flames of the bonfire lit on the day of Lohri carry messages and prayers of the people to the sun god to bring warmth to the planet to help crops grow/ripen.
Around the bonfire there is Dhol (two sided drum) and Bhangra dance.
Food and other preparations
Rabi crop (the main crop) is ripening, as farmers look forward to a new season. Once the fire dies out, dinner includes favourites like makki di roti te sarson da saag (pancakes made of stone ground corn flour and mustard spinach dishes loaded with freshly made white butter) and lassi (buttermilk). Also included are some/all of the traditional Punjabi menu til ki barfi, gur ki roti, makhane ki kheer, panjiri, pinni, till laddoo, gondh ladoo and more.
The next morning is an auspicious occasion for ritual bathing in ponds and rivers
The most popular song on lohri sung from a few days before, while seeking donations for celebrating lohri is Sunder mundriye ho!
.
Sunder mundriye ho
सुंदर मुंदरिए - हो
तेरा कौन विचारा-हो
दुल्ला भट्टी वाला-हो
दुल्ले ने धी ब्याही-हो
सेर शक्कर पाई-हो
कुडी दे बोझे पाई-हो
कुड़ी दा लाल पटाका-हो
कुड़ी दा शालू पाटा-हो
शालू कौन समेटे-हो
चाचा गाली देसे-हो
चाचे चूरी कुट्टी-हो
जिमींदारां लुट्टी-हो
जिमींदारा सदाए-हो
गिन-गिन पोले लाए-हो
बड़े भोले आये हो
इक पोला घिस गया हो
जिमींदार वोट्टी लै के नस्स गया हो
Sundar mundriye ho Tera kaun vicharaa ho
Dulla bhatti wala ho
Dulle di dhee vyayae ho
Ser shakkar payee ho
Kudi de bojhe paai ho
Kudi da laal pathaka ho
Kudi da saalu paatta ho
Salu kaun samite ho
chacha gaali desa ho
Chache choori kutti ho
zamidara lutti ho
Zamindaar sudhaye ho
Gin gin pole laaye ho
Bade bhole aaye ho
Ek ghis gaya ho
Zamindaar votti leke nass gaya ho
[1] Author (Free lance, IES Retd, Former Senior Economic Adviser, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) has in posts on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site), twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/), linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-parmar-841b4724) been writing on varied topics and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
Comments