lohri, festival of the Punjabi community people slated to be celebrated on Wednesday, a day before Makar Sankranti, Punjabis based in Dehradun and its outskirts are gearing up to celebrate it with the customary fervor and devotion. Traditionally, it is associated with the harvest of the Rabi crop. The farmers, principally, celebrate the festival by way of thanksgiving for the crop sown in October and becoming harvest- ready in March and April. The festival is meant to celebrate a golden harvest and that is why it is held just before the farmers set out to reap the crops in the fields. On the eve of the festival, a programme was arranged at the Chief Minister’s residence at the behest of the CM Harish Rawat on Tuesday evening.
This festival brings joy not only for the farmers but for the traders and vendors who sell peanuts and popcorn, the quintessential items for the festival. Many people say it is a bonfire festival. locals start preparing to celebrate it a day before the festival is held.
Praveen Sahani, a homemaker, said that it being their main festival, they celebrate this with utmost devotion as well as fun. “Different food items are prepared as we celebrate it with family and friends together and at night we celebrate it with bonfires and drum beats. Items made of sesame seeds, jaggery , peanuts and popcorn are tossed into the fire and we celebrate by dancing and singing around the fire till the fire dies out,” she says.
Veena Chawla, a resident of GMS Road, says they celebrate it through bonfires lit in every little corner. “We offer rewris, popcorn, peanuts and jaggery into the fire. We pray while moving around the fire. While welcoming every person, we celebrate it by reciting tale of ‘Dulla Hatti’,” she recounts.
“As this lohri will be my first one after marriage it rings special for me. We will invite all our close relatives and friends. It is basically celebrated by feasting and exchanging gifts. Also we give money to the children in the family,” says Mandeep Kaur Saini.
The rates of the peanuts and popcorn have however seen a steep rise. “This is natural, give the fact that these items are indispensable for the celebration,” says Saroj Sachdeva, another homemaker.