Punjabi numbers have not yet replaced the desi dhol, gajjak and rewdi are still the most cherished desserts of the day and lohri is only complete at home with family. Over the years the festival, traditionally associated with the harvest of rabi crops, has not lost its cultural charm, says Karan Bhardwaj
Diwali is all about lavish card parties. Holi is a perfect occasion to throw fancy pool parties with Yo Yo Honey Singh’s raps playing in the background. But there are still some festivals partially untouched from contemporary pomp and show. lohri still retains its cultural charm and is the festival still believed to be celebrated traditionally at home, with family. Despite a burgeoning population of Punjabis and Sikhs in urban centers, the market has failed to commercialise the festival. According to Jasprit Kiran, a freelance writer, “The festival has a lot to do with traditions and old rituals. It is meant to break the long, bitter winter spell in Punjab and usher in festivities. It brings the much needed respite from cold. Also lohri is a very “male” festival where birth of a son is celebrated by the family or the wedding of a son. In Punjab, grand invites are sent out to mark celebrations and elaborate programmes are organised. Most important it rings in the new year with great joy.”
Associated with the harvest of the rabi crop, lohri is celebrated with feasting, sharing of gifts, wishes and songs and dance around bonfire. Jaggery, peanuts, sesame seeds and popcorn are flipped into fire as dinner featuring traditional delicacies like makki di roti, sarson da saag and maah ki daal is served. Kiran reminisces how in his childhood celebrations were planned in a grand way if there had been a wedding or a child birth in the family. “We would get elaborate invites to attend the event. There were even times when one got to attend as many as five lohri functions in one night. The most important would however be the one at home which was a must. My mother would cook saag and daal overnight in a earthenware pot to be consumed the next day which marked the beginning of the auspicious Hindu month of Maagh or Makar Sankranti as it is celebrated all over India,” she says.
The annual lohri festival at India Habitat Centre, which is a popular event in the Capital, features folk tunes by Madan Gopal Singh, his group Chaar Yaars and Desraj lacchkani. This time, they are going to old kaliyaan and ballets, and will also have popular sufi singer Dhruv Sangari. “lohri is associated with agriculture cycle in rural areas. But it is a big celebration in cities now. In fact, it has become more of an urban affair. The music has also changed. The tonal and textural quality of singing has changed even in rural areas. As a kid, my friends and I used to go door-to-door begging and singing. In return, we would get popcorn, which were then shared and given away. This is important since the act of collecting things was not for you, but for others,” says Singh. The sufi singer believes that the festival has retained its dignity of bring a quite, warm and melodic event. “It is still very gentle. I call it a lunar festival, not a solar festival simply because I cannot sing aggressive ballets. In our times, people are living away from each other. We are so engaged that we don’t even get time for each other. lohri is one occasion where people look forward to get together,” he says.
lohri at The Imperial is celebrated traditionally. “We lovingly celebrate this fun filled occasion with the holy fire and gourmet specials prepared by our chefs. The splendour comes alive with a huge bonfire, symbolic of the homage to the Sun God for bringing in warmth and exchanging pleasantries, praying for prosperity and merry-making. Our guests usually join us at the 1911 lawns in the evening for the festival celebration as we make offerings to the burning ember. They love to indulge in some traditional refreshments served at the lawns,” informs an official from the hotel.