Guest guest Posted January 14, 2002 Report Share Posted January 14, 2002 Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. Generally, it is an accepted fact that this festival is to worship fire. This is particularly a happy occasion for the couples who for the first time celebrated Lohri after th eir marriage and also the first Lohri of the son born in a family. Children visit homes in the neighbourhood and sing songs. One of the famous ones is : <br>Sunder mundriya..ho<br>Tera kaun vichara..ho<br>Dulla Bhatti walla..ho<br>Dulle ne ti viahiyi..ho<br>Saer Shakar payi..ho<br>Kudi de boje payee..ho<br>Shallu kaun samete..ho<br>Chacha galee dese..ho<br>Chache choori kutee..ho<br>Zamindaran lutee..ho<br>Zamindara sidaye..ho<br>Gin-gin pole layee..ho<br>Ik pola reh gaya..ho<br>Sipahi farh ke lei gaya..ho<br>Aakho mundao taana..<br>Mukai da dana..<br>Aana lei ke jana.. <br><br>The day begins with children collecting money from houses in the neighbourhood. In the evening, winter savouries are served around a bonfire. Celebrated enthusiastically in Haryana, Punjab and parts of Himachal Pradesh, it also signifies the beginning of the end of winter. <br>Children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich and helped the poor. These "visitors" are given either money or peanut candy, til, moongphali (roasted peanuts) and popcorn. A bonfire is lit and everyone gathers around it. Munchies, collected from each house, go around the party and are also thrown into the fire. The festival assumes greater significance if there has been a happy event in the family during the elapsed year, like the birth of a male child or marriage. The family then plays host to relations and friends wherein the eats take a back seat and merry-making takes over. Move on folks! It is then time for bhangra, dhol, gidda and light-hearted flirtation. Liquor flows freely and guests are served dinner. But then liquor is a modern introduction and is not customary and celebrations depend on how much does the pocket allow.<br><br>Call it Lohri, Pongal or Sankranti, the festival conveys the same message -- the bond of brotherhood and the spirit of oneness should prevail despite all odds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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