Tradition of Lohri
The Lohri is the folk festival of Punjab and is celebrated every year on 13th January during the winter season. Traditionally Lohri is celebrated on the set of the harvest season in Punjab. Lohri usually falls on one day before Makar Sankranti which is celebrated as mostly all region of Indian culture. In Punjab this festival is celebrated as Lohri, in Gujrat, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, and in south India, it is celebrated as Pongal. The Lohri festival is celebrated almost everywhere including schools, govt, and private offices. In morning children go from door to door and ask Lohri from people by singing a song (Dulha Bhatti). The people in return can give some money and sweet items and peanuts. In the evening people Gather around the bonfire throw peanuts, puffed rice, popcorn into a fire, and sing traditional and folk songs and exchange greetings with each other.
Flying Kites competition:
During the Lohri festival days, kites such as ’Guddi’,’tukkal’, ‘pari’, ‘chhaj’ of different colors and sizes are seen in the sky. Kite- flying competition is organized in the various region across the state in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar with people challenge each other to cut kites. You can see some of the images of the kites that I took.
Regions where Festival of kites is celebrated:
Lohri is celebrated at the last coldest days of winter. It is celebrated in all region of Punjab apart from it, Lohri is also celebrated in Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The Bonfire Customs and tradition:
Lohri festival falls at the end of chilly winter season. In the evening after the sunsets, a huge log of woods is lit in the open area of a house or in the harvested land. People gather around the bonfire and throw popcorn, peanuts, jaggery, gajak, puffed rice into the fire and sing popular folk songs. In Hindus, culture people pour milk and fire around a bonfire and pray to sun God for their warm protection. Both energetic women and men in colorful dress perform.