लोहड़ी Lohri
January 13, 2025
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
`लोहड़ी दी लख लख वदियाँ ’ `Lohri Di Lakh Lakh Vadiyan’
Pic Lohri01 Lohri fire
The word लोहड़ी Lohri is synthesised from til (sesame seeds) and rorhi (jaggery/ gur), as 'tilohri', which are traditionally eaten around/ during the festival to give warmth to the body in winter. The name 'tilohri', gradually changed to ‘Lohri’.
Lohri is a popular winter folk festival celebrated primarily in the states of erstwhile Punjab (Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab), the land of five rivers; [2] Jammu region, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh; and in parts of Pakistan (especially Punjab province). The Sindhi community in India and Pakistan celebrates it as Lal Loi. It is also celebrated by the Indian diaspora (especially Punjabi diaspora).
Lohri is celebrated on the night before Makar Sankranti. It is one of the few festivals which falls on the same date every year (January 13/ 14, as per the Gregorian calendar). On Lohri, people greet each other `लोहड़ी दी लख लख वदियाँ ’ (Lohri Di Lakh Lakh Vadiyan).
On Makar Sankranti (the day after Lohri), there are celebrations for Bhogali Bihu, Ghuguti, Khichidi Sankranti, Magh Bihu, Maghi Saaji, Maghi Sangrand, Makar/ Mokor Sankranti, Makara Vilakku, Pedda Panduga, Pongal, Poush Sankranti, Sakrat/ Sakraat/ Sukraat, Shishur Senkrath, Suggi, Til Sakraat, Uttarayana (Uttarain), Uttarayani, Uzhavar Thirunal. [3]
Festivities and celebrations with different names and associated rituals across states/ regions of India/ overseas, which are spread over four days, symbolise unity in diversity, but not necessarily as a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all. In a pre-dominantly agricultural society, these festivities and celebrations are timed with the ripening of the crop and the harvest season.
Lohri marks the traditional welcome of longer days and the Sun's journey to the northern hemisphere, [4] which started on December 21/ 22 of the previous calendar year, but on Lohri day is felt stronger. It marks the softening of winter.
Lohri also symbolises fertility and is considered auspicious especially for newlywed couples and parents of newborn babies, for whom it is `पहली लोहड़ी है’ (Pahli Lohri hai).
A story related to Lohri, can be traced back to the tales of Dulla Bhatti, a third generation rebel against Akbar. Bhatti’s are fierce Rajputs, practising Hindu, Sikh and Muslim religion. Rai Abdullah Bhatti widely known as Dulla [5] Bhatti rescued poor Punjabi girls, who were forcibly sold in the slave market. The heroic deeds of Dulla Bhatti are widely recounted in folklore, but lesser in `recorded history’. His valour is reflected in the most popular song `सुंदर मुंदरिए – हो’ (Sunder mundriye- ho) as `दुल्ला भट्टी वाला-हो’ (Dulla Bhatti wala-ho).
Pic Lohri02 Til (Sesame) plant
Til and Gur Preparations
Til seeds according to texts on Ayurveda are known for their ability to generate heat and energy in the body, for beauty, and benefits to the hair. Til seeds are full of nutrition, making it a special food for winters.
To keep warm and healthy, til and gur preparations are made and consumed around/ on Lohri. These include Gajak, Moongphali (groundnut) Patti (mainly of moongphali and gur, but also other ingredients like roasted chana dal), Phule (popcorn), मुरमुरा (puffed rice), and रेवड़ी (Revri).
PicLohri 03 Til (Sesame) Laddus
PicLohri 04 Gajak -cylindrical
Gajak and Revri are a dry sweet prepared through a slow, labour intensive process, from til (sesame seeds) and gur with different ingredients and shape. The ingredients include different proportions of the sweetener (gur and/ or sugar); at times til seeds are replaced with other seeds and grains. Dry fruits in gajak, form part of upmarket preparations. Gajak comes in small rectangular, flat/ round/ cylindrical shapes.
Moongphali (groundnut) Patti is another sweet that is prepared/ eaten during lohri and in the winter months. Moongphali patti is different in form, preparation, texture and taste, from Chikki, which has Lonavala, (Pune, Maharashta) as the main centre.
PicLohri 05 Moongphali (Groundnut) Patti
Each product (gajak and revri) has variants and have important towns preparing it on a large scale. Some of the major centres for production are Bharatpur (in Rajasthan), Lucknow and Meerut (in Uttar Pradesh) and Morena (in Madhya Pradesh).
A suggestion to readers/ others is to drive down to the closest city/ town and purchase the products, to taste an unadulterated and original form.
Morena Gajak in 2022-23 received GI tagging. [6]
PicLohri 06 Roasting of Phule (pop corn)
Roasting of Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) is done in a large कड़ाही (Cauldron), filled with sand, and lit with wood fire. The warm and freshly roasted Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) taste different, and have an aroma of sand and wood fire in them.
Lohri Celebrations
Lohri is the celebration of growing/ ripening of crop and related ceremonies, where farmers pay tribute to सूर्य देव (Surya Dev, Sun God). People celebrate the festival to recognise the hard work of farmers, the end of winter, and the arrival of a warmer season. Flames of bonfire lit on the day of Lohri, carry messages and prayers to Surya Dev (Sun God) to bring warmth to earth, to help crops grow/ ripen.
Village folk celebrate around large common fires, enjoying the warmth of burning logs of wood, with participation from all sections/ classes of society. The fire is lit with adding of groundnut, (and products made from the them), gajak, patti, popcorn, revri, and til laddo, as offering, followed by dancing and singing around the fire. People mix til and gur products and exchange with relatives and friends.
People wear bright colourful clothes, and dance to the dhol in the traditional bhangra and gidda dances, to celebrate Lohri.
Food preparations
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 with freshly churned white butter) and lassi (buttermilk). Makki di roti te sarson da saag is widely consumed in the region during the winter months.
A special kheer called `Rauh di kheer’ is cooked in sugarcane juice much before the lighting of the fire, and served cold.
Also included are some/ all of the traditional Punjabi dishes gajar ka halwa, gondh ke ladoo, gur ki roti, laddoo, makhane ki kheer, panjiri, pinni, til ki barfi and til ke laddoo.
The most popular song on lohri, sung from a few days before, while seeking donations for celebrating lohri is Sunder mundriye ho!. Children go from house to house, demanding Lohri (as gifts or cash), singing traditional folk songs. These children are sent off with Lohri delicacies.
The morning following Lohri is Makar Sankranti, and is an auspicious occasion for ritual bathing in rivers and ponds.
सुंदर मुंदरिए - हो/ 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 hoTera 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, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
X (formerly twitter) (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/),
been writing/ sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The five rivers from south to north are Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. These five rivers are tributaries of River Indus.
[3] A list of festivals and celebrations for four days of Makar Sankranti is part of the forthcoming article entitled `Makar Sankranti/ Lohri/ Bhogi January 14, 2025’, being shared on January 14, 2025, and will be available on https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site . The article entitled `Makar Sankranti/ Lohri/ Bhogi January 15, 2024’, for 2024 is available on https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site .
[4] The earth revolves around the Sun, which is static compared to Earth. However, due to the axial tilt of the earth, during the six months commencing December 21 or 22, the Sun/ shine becomes stronger in the northern hemisphere, so the metaphor that Sun moves to the northern hemisphere.
[5] Dulla sounds like the word `Dulah (दुलाह)’ meaning bridegroom. However, Dulla here refers to an abridged (Ab) Dulla.
[6] A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are associated to that origin.
GI tags are issued under the Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which facilitates the registration and protection of Geographical Indications relating to goods in India. The Act is administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
The Geographical Indications Registry is located at Chennai.
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