लोहड़ी Lohri
January 14, 2024
-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 (Punjab province). The Sindhi community in India and Pakistan celebrates it as Lal Loi. It is also celebrated by the Indian diaspora (especially Punjabi).
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).
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 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 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 commencement of 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 `Pahli Lohri hai, `पहली लोहड़ी है.’ People greet each other `Lohri Di Lakh Lakh Vadiyan’. `लोहड़ी दी लख लख वदियाँ ’.
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 Rajput’s, 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 ’.
Pic Lohri02 Til (Sesame) plant
Til and Gur Preparations
Til seeds in 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) and Revri.
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. Gajak comes in small rectangular, flat/round/cylindrical shapes. The ingredients include different proportions of the sweetener (sugar and/or gur); til seeds are replaced with other seeds and grains. Dry fruits form part of upmarket preparations.
PicLohri 03 Till (Sesame) Laddos
PicLohri 04 Gajak -cylindrical
Moongphali (groundnut) Patti is another sweet that is prepared/eaten during lohri and in the winter months. Moongphali patti is different in form, preparation, taste and texture from Chikki, which has Lonavala, (Pune, Maharashta) as the main centre.
PicLohri 05 Moongphali (Groundnut) Patti
Each product has variants and have important towns preparing it on a large scale, which need to be GI (Geographical Indication) tagged, to promote the towns 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 readers/others is to drive down to the closest town and purchase the products, to taste an unadulterated and original form.
Roasting of Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) is done in a large कड़ाही (Cauldron), filled with sand, and with wood fire. The warm and freshly roasted Moongphali (groundnut) and Phule (popcorn) taste different, and have an aroma of sand in them.
PicLohri 06 Roasting of Phule (pop corn)
Lohri Celebrations
Lohri is the celebration of growing/ripening of crop related ceremonies, where farmers pay tribute to Surya Devata (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 Devata (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 of all sections of society. The fire is lit with adding of groundnut, (and products made from the them), gajak, til laddo, patti, popcorn, and revri, as offering, followed by dancing and singing around the fire. People assort til and gur products and exchange with relatives and friends.
People wear bright colourful clothes, and dance to the dhol as traditional bhangra and gidda, 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 made white butter) and lassi (buttermilk).
A special kheer called `Rauh di kheer’ is cooked in sugarcane juice before, and served cold. Also included are some/all of the traditional Punjabi dishes gondh ke ladoo, gur ki roti, makhane ki kheer, panjiri, pinni, til ki barfi and 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 (gifts or cash), singing traditional folk songs. These children are sent off with Lohri delicacies.
The next morning (Makar Sankranti) 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 (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, 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 15, 2024’, being shared on January 15, 2024, and will be available on https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site .
[4] The earth moves 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, 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.
ความคิดเห็น