Chill is in the air and consequently, the people, in general, are now choosing to remain indoors. This is how things are in Haridwar region. However, the pilgrim city has observed the lohri festival, which is the first festival of the year, with pomp and show.
lohri, which is generally celebrated on January 13, is associated with the farming community. It marks the end of the month of Paush and the onset of Magh as per the Hindu calendar. This is when the Sun moves from the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (Danush) into Capricorn (Makar) in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayan), says KD Mishra, a numerologist based in the city.
There are many myths and traditions woven around this festival. The genesis of the festival lies in the tradition of celebrating the reaping of Rabi crops that include wheat, gram and barley. These are sown in November. The farming community, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, celebrates lohri to pay gratitude to nature for its bounties and abundance.
An eminent lawyer RB Chawla said the improvement in technology and faster and superior means of transport have helped all the festivals transcend boundaries. They are turning inclusive, being enriched by the multitudes of cultures thriving across the world. Surjit Singh Chaddha from Bhupatwala said the festival, previously confined within the Punjabi community, is now shedding its exclusivist character. Now, all the communities are celebrating it alike.
The festival starts with the people putting on traditional attires and cooking seasonal dishes inthe morning. In the evening, bonfires are lit in the farms and the courtyards of the houses and the people gather around the flames raised on woods contributed by all. They go around the flames, dancing and singing folk songs to the beating of drums. Til, Revadi, popcorn and peanuts are distributed and greetings are exchanged. These items are also thrown in the blaze by way of offering obeisance to the God of Fire (Agni).