Lohri, a seasonal festival in North India, has a history as old as the Indus Valley civilization itself. It signals the end of winter and the arrival of spring and the new year. There are many stories and folklore surrounding its origin.
Wishing you a wonderful Lohri! We hope that this festival will deepen the spirit of harmony in our society. May there be happiness all around. pic.twitter.com/s7tzg0puVX
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
January 13, 2023
Lohri is Holika’s younger sister, according to Hindu beliefs. While the former was killed in the Holi fire, the latter was saved by bhakt Prahlad.
Other traditions hold that the festival is named after Loi, the name of Saint Kabir’s wife. Others believe that Lohri is derived from the word ‘loh’, which refers to a thick iron tawa used to grill chapattis at community feasts.
Apart from this folklore and stories, the celebration of Lohri festival is also associated with the historical figure of Dulla Bhatti. Do you know about him?
Best wishes and warm greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of #Lohri.
May this harvest festival bring health, happiness, prosperity and success in everyone’s lives.#Lohri2023 pic.twitter.com/xrBiRZJGFR
— MDoNER India (@MDoNER_India)
January 13, 2023
Dulla Bhatti was a Rajput Muslim who is believed to have come from the Punjab region and led a rebellion against Mughal rule during the reign of Akbar. According to legend, four months before Dulla was born, Mughal ruler Humayun murdered his father Farid Khan and grandfather Sandal Bhatti.
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To strike fear into the hearts of the rebels, the skins of both were stuffed with wheat hay and hung outside Bharwa village. In revenge, Dullah Bhatti evolved into the Robin Hood of his time to exact revenge on the victims. He used to steal goods from Akbar’s zamindars and give them to the poor and underprivileged. He was considered a dacoit by Akbar. Dullah is famous for saving women who were held against their will and sold into slavery. He then helps them with the stolen money and arranges their marriages with the village boys.
Sundri and Mundri, now known as Sunder and Mundriye in Punjabi folklore, were among the girls rescued by Dulla Bhatti. Folklore claims that Dulla Bhatti was so powerful that Akbar’s army of 12 thousand could not capture him. As a result, in 1599, he was unjustly captured in a war and hanged. So, people honor Dullah Bhatti and his sacrifices on the festival day of Lohri.
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A small image of goddess Lohri is usually made of gobar (cattle dung), decorated, lit under fire and chanted during rituals related to the Lohri festival. The final ritual involves lighting a large bonfire at sunset, sprinkling it with gur, candied sugar, prizes and sesame seeds, then gathering around to sing and dance until the fire goes out. People brought the last embers of the fire inside. Fire is continuously maintained in Punjabi village houses using cakes made from cow dung. On this day, eating til (sesame seeds) and rorhi (jaggery) is considered necessary. It is possible that the words til and rorhi merged to form tilorhi, later abbreviated as Lohri.
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The holiday of Lohri in north India falls on the same day as Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magha Bihu in Assam and Tai Pongal in Kerala.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: pagasa.edu.vn