Lohri 2023.pdf

India is known worldwide for its diversified cultures. And Indian festivals serve as the paradigm to represent this. Being a constitution of 28 states and 9 union territories, people celebrate these festivals with all zeal and zest. Lohri is one such festival, celebrated with grandeur by the people of Punjab.

1. Lohri2023
Lohri:ThefamousPunjabifestivalcelebratedacrosstheglobe
Indiaisknownworldwideforitsdiversifiedcultures.AndIndianfestivalsserveastheparadigmto
representthis.Beingaconstitutionof28statesand9unionterritories,peoplecelebratethese
festivalswithallzealandzest.Lohriisonesuchfestival,celebratedwithgrandeurbythepeopleof
Punjab.Thisfestivalmarksanendingtothewinterseasonandiscelebratedtobidfarewelltothe
wintersolstice.Therabicropripensupfortheharvestandfarmersgetspreparedforthenextcrop
season.AccordingtoHinducalendar,LohrifallsonSaptamiofKrishnpakshinthemonthofPaush
(generallymidofJanuaryeveryyear).Lohri2023willbecelebratedon14thJanuary.Thoughbeinga
festivalofPunjab,IndianstakespecialprideincelebratingitasIndians.So,whetheraPunjabiora
non-Punjabi,Lohriisthefestivalofallnowadays.Alloneneedstoknowisitsimportanceandbein
fervortobeapartofthefestival,anditbelongstoyou.
Thereisatraditionandritual,thatisfollowedtocelebrateit.WhilecelebratingLohri,thefamily
membersandotherssitaroundthefire,litlikeabonfire.Fireisthemainelementoftheritual,and;
peoplehavetotakesevenroundsaroundittopayrespecttoit.OrtounderstandthisinsimpleHindi
language,peopletake“AgniPheras”.Andtheritualdoesnotonlycallforrevolvingaroundthefire
butpeoplehavetochantamantraorthe“GayatriMantra”whentakingpheras.Aftereachround,
peoplesacrificeamixturemadeupoffiveedibleelements.TheyofferthistotheAgnidevta,
chanting“swaha”attheendofeachphera.Theycallthissacrificeorofferingan“aahuti”.So,seven
timestheymakethisofferingtothegodoffire.
Childrenaremoreexcitedtojointhefestivitiesoncetheeldershaveperformedalltheritualsand
customsattachedtoLohri;thesmallonesplay,sing,anddancewiththeirfriendsandfamily.
Everyoneparticipatesinthecelebrationandenjoysthefestivalwithallitscolors.Thefireprovidesa
soothingrelieffromthewinterseasonanditbecomespleasingtositaroundthefireandenjoythe
festival’sevents.Themixtureleftafterperformingtheritualgetsdividedamongthepeopleattending.
Thisportionofthemixture,called“Prasad”isacceptedwithallduerespecttothegodoffire.The
festivalofLohriholdsspecialsignificancefornewlybornandnewlyweds.TheHinduculturehas
placedspecialreligiousmeaningonmarriageandthebrideiswelcomedintothefamilyandaskedto
takeblessingsfromgodforagoodmarriedlife.So,boththebride’sandgroom’sfamiliesarrange
partiestocelebratethepiousunion.
Hugepartiesarethrownbyinvitingalonglistofguestsespeciallyifthereisanewbornoranew
brideinthefamily,andifitistheirveryfirstfestivalasafamilywiththem.Aftertheritualisperformed
inacustomizedmanner,therelativesandguestsrelishfoodanddrinks.Lohriprovidespeoplean
opportunitytoorganizegettogetherandenjoyeachother’scompany.Guestscomingtothefestival
enjoygoodcompany,andgranddinners,andbringbeautifulgiftsandpresentsforthenewbornsor
newlyweds.ThefestivalofLohriisagesoldtraditionandthehistoryissooldthatnowPunjabi
familiescelebrateitworldwide.Peoplepray,eatandenjoythefestivalbytakingblessingsfromthe
Agnidevtaandthefestivitiesculminatebybeinggratefultothegodoffire.