LOHRI FESTIVAL

The legend of LOHRI has many stories. Some relate it to Winter Solstice and harvesting of crops, particularly, sugarcane. Lohri is meant to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year. A key feature of Lohri is the bonfire. Lighting of the fire has been common in winter solstice festivals throughout time and the world. And the story of the festival goes back to the days of Indus Valley Civilisation or now, Saraswati Valley Civilisation, when people used to celebrate harvesting of crops and onset of pleasant weather.

Digressing a bit to inform readers that Northern India, including parts of Pakistani Punjab and Sindh provinces, in ancient times, between River Indus and Yamuna was called SAPTA SINDHU REGION ( SEVEN RIVERS). Indus in the West and Saraswati in the East were its two extremities. River Yamuna was a tributary of River Saraswati. Yamuna joined Saraswati at SATRANA, some 60 KMs SE of Patiala, it took eastward turn after Saraswati disappeared , due to some geological upheaval. Saraswati originated at Har ki DOON in Uttarakhand, and flowing through modern states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Pakistani Punjab, it drained into the sea off the coast of Gujarat. 75% VEDIC sites have been excavated along its banks. Vedic Civilization flourished here in the SAPTA SINDHU Region. Ramayana was written here by BALMIKI at his "Ashram" at Ram Tirath, near Amritsar in Indian Punjab. Lahore in Pakistan was established by Ram's son Luv and KASOOR by his second son KUSH. Both are in Pakistani Punjab, today. Vedic civilization was agricultural predominant society and therefore the importance of harvesting and sowing of crops.

Coming back to LOHRI, though the winter solstice takes place on 21-22 December every year but somehow it has been clubbed with the start of Vikrami Samvat Month of Magh and also MAKAR SAKRANTI. It is mainly celebrated in Punjab on January 13 every year. Name Punjab (Five Waters or Rivers) is a Persian name given after the disappearance of Saraswati. Festival of LOHRI in Punjab, coincides with Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as well as Magh Bihu of Assam. All these festivals are celebrated as a mark of change in the weather and harvesting of crops.

Some others take the story back to even Legendary Parhlad and his father Hiranakashyap ------- Parhlad's paternal aunt, Hollika, had a boon that fire can not burn her. So Parhlad's father Hiranaykashap asked her to sit through the heap of fire with Parhlad in her laps. He had sentenced Parhlad to die because the child had refused to accept him as God, which Hiranakashyap had claimed. But Holilika got burnt and Parhlad got saved.

Dulla Bhatti story is of 16th Century Punjab. Dulla was a Bhatti Rajput landlord of Pindi Bhattian ------ who did not accept Akbar as his king. Some say he was a Muslim Rajput, but it is not very clear. His ancesters bore HINDU names. He used to loot rich and distribute his booty amongst the poor. People of the area loved him and he was their hero. He also used to rescue kidnapped girls being taken to Middle East for Slave trade. He once rescued a beautiful girl, named, Mundri, and got her married. Thus the song ,"Sunder- Munderiye" got famous as a folk lore. Here are the wordings with translation:-

Sunder mundriye ho!
Tera kaun vicharaa ho!
Dullah Bhatti walla ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser shakkar payee ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saalu paata ho!
Salu kaun samete!
Chacha gali dese!
Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti!
Zamindaar sudhaye!
Bum Bum bhole aaye!
Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahee far ke lai gaya!
Sipahee ne mari itt!
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pitt!
Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jodi!
(Laugh,cry or howl!)

Translation

Beautiful girl
Who will think about you
Dulla of the Bhatti clan will
Dulla's daughter got married
He gave one ser of sugar!
The girl is wearing a red suit!
But her shawl is torn!
Who will stitch her shawl?!
The uncle made choori!
The landlords looted it!
Landlords are beaten up!
Lots of simple-headed boys came!
One simpleton got left behind!
The soldier arrested him!
The soldier hit him with a brick!
(Cry or howl)!
Give us Lohri, long live your pair (to a married couple)!
Whether you cry, or bang your head later!