Lohri and Winter Solstice

Indian Origins

Lohri is the Punjabis' cultural celebration on the eve of winter solstice. However, instead
of celebrating Lohri on the eve of winter solstice, Punjabis celebrate it on the last day of
the month during which winter solstice takes place, Paush. This is due to linking Lohri to
the Bikrami calendar.

According to folk lore, in ancient Punjab Lohri was celebrated on the eve of winter
solstice day. It is for this reason that people believe the Lohri night is meant to be the
longest night of the year and on the day after Lohri, day light is meant to increase.

However, scientifically, the shortest day of the year is around December 21-22 after
when the days begin to get longer. Accordingly, winter solstice begins on December 21
or December 22 and Lohri ought to be celebrated a day before winter solstice.

Seasonal Festival
Punjabi's, irrespective of their religion, continue to practice their Punjabi Folk Religion.
Respect to the seasons and the natural elements of fire, wind, water and the earth is very
important. Lohri is a festival dedicated to the end of the Winter season whereas Teej
(known as Teeyan in Punjabi) is dedicated to the rain/Monsoon season and Basant is
dedicated to the Spring season.

Lohri and Harvest Festival

Lohri is traditionally associated with the harvest of the rabi crops. People take peanuts,
rewri, flour, butter and various food items to places of religious worship to thank God for
a good harvest.

Lohri and the Financial New Year

Punjabi farmers see the day after Lohri as the financial new year.

Dulla Bhatti
Over time, people have associated Lohri to the tale of Dulla Bhatti. The central character
of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab
during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls
being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. He arranged their
marriages to Hindu boys with Hindu rituals and provided them with dowries.
Understandably, though a bandit, he became a hero of all Punjabis. So every other Lohri
song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti.
Dulla bhatti was a rebel whose lineage was of Bhatti Rajputs converted to Islam. His
anscestors were the rulers of pindi bhattian in sandalbar area of present day pakistan.he
was a hero of all punjabis & his Var or life story is available on the internet.

Other Legends of the Origin of Lohri

Loi

Some people believe that Lohri has derived its name from Loi, the wife of Sant Kabir.

Loh

There is a legend amongst some people that Lohri comes from the word 'loh', a thick iron
sheet tawa used for baking chapattis for community feasts.

Holika, Lohri and Prahald

According to another legend Holika and Lohri were sisters. While the former perished in
the Holi fire, the latter survived with Prahlad.

Til and rorhi

Eating of til (sesame seeds) and rorhi (jaggery) is considered to be essential on Lohri day.
Perhaps the words til and rorhi merged to become tilorhi, which eventually got shortened
to Lohri.

Date
According to the Bikrami calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Paush i.e. around 13
January, as per the Gregorian calendar. It is, actually, celebrated a day before Makara
Sankranthi, as it marks the end of the winter season. The sun usually enters the Nirayana
Makara rashi (Capricorn) on January 14 (99% of the time). However, there are times
when the sun could enter the zodiac a day before or a day after January 14. Regardless,
Lohri is still celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti. Makara sankranti marks beginning
of the solar maagha masa, and Lohri must be celebrated on the last day of the solar
Dhanur masa, which also marks the exit of the sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius).

Ceremony
During the day, children go from door to door singing folk songs in praise of Dulha
Bhatti. These children are given sweets and savories, and occasionally, money. Turning
them back empty-handed is regarded inauspicious.

The collections gathered by the children are known as Lohri and consist of til, gachchak,
crystal sugar, gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Lohri is then
distributed at night during the festival. Till, peanuts, popcorn and other food items are
also thrown into the fire.

The bonfire ceremony differs depending on the location in Punjab. In some parts, a small
image of the Lohri goddess is made with gobar (cattle dung) decorating it, kindling a fire
beneath it and chanting its praises. In other parts, the Lohri fire consists of cow dung and
wood with no reference to the Lohri goddess.

The bonfire is lit at sunset. People toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries on
the bonfire, sit around it, sing and dance till the fire dies out. Some people perform a
prayer and go around the fire. This is to show respect to the natural element of fire [4]. It is
traditional to offer guests til, gachchak, gur, moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or
popcorn. Milk and water is also poured around the bonfire by Hindus. This ritual is
performed for thanking the Sun God and seeking his continued protection.

People take dying embers of the fire to their homes.

Celebrations
While Lohri is essentially a Punjabi festival, it is celebrated in some other states of North
India as well. In cities like Delhi, which have a predominant Punjabi population, Lohri is
celebrated to denote the last of the coldest days of winter. Apart from Punjab, people
from other northern Indian states of Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu,
become busy making preparations for Lohri.

In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a
higher pitch of excitement. Punjabis usually have private Lohri celebrations, in their
houses. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs.

Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest
clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. Punjabi songs
are sung, and everybody rejoices. Sarson ka saag and makki ki roti is usually served as
the main course at a Lohri dinner. Lohri is a great occasion that holds great importance
for farmers. However, people residing in urban areas also celebrate Lohri, as this festival
provides the opportunity to interact with family and friends.

Lohri songs
Sunder mundriye ho!
Tera kaun vicaharaa ho!
Dullah bhatti walla ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser shakkar payee ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saalu paatta ho!
Salu kaun samete!
Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti!
Zamindaar sudhaye!
bade bhole aaye!
Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahee far ke lai gaya!
Sipahee ne mari eet!
Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi!(Cry or howl!)
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pit!

Translation

Beautiful girl
Who will think about you
He is dulla bhatti Dulla's daughter got married
He gave 1 kg 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 innocent boys came
One innocent boy got left behind
The police arrested him!
The policeman hit him with a brick!
Cry or howl!
Give us lohri ..long live your couple!
Whether you cry, or bang your head later!
 Song - 1 Translation

Sunder mundriye ho! Oh Sunder and munder

Tera kaun vicaharaa ho! Who will think about you
Dullah bhatti walla ho! He is Dulla Bhatti
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho! Dulla's daughter
Ser shakkar payee ho! got married
Kudi da laal pathaka ho! He gave 1 kg sugar!
Kudi da saalu paatta ho! The girl is wearing a red suit!
Salu kaun samete! But her shawl is torn!
Chache choori kutti! Who will stitch her shawl?!
zamidara lutti! The uncle made choori! The
Zamindaar sudhaye! landlords looted it!
bade bhole aaye! Landlords are beaten up then!
Ek bhola reh gaya! Lots of innocent guys came to
Sipahee far ke lai gaya! save
Sipahee ne mari eet! One innocent boy got left
Sanoo de de lohri te teri behind
jeeve jodi! The police arrested him!
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pit! The policeman hit him with a
brick!
Give us lohri ..long live your
couple!
Whether you cry, or bang your
head later!

Song - 2 Translation
Hulle nee maiyee hulle do Two berry leaves are hanging
beri patte jhulle Two date leaves are also
Do jhul payeaan kahjurran hanging
Khajurran suttya meva The tree shed the fruit
Es munde de ghar mangeva There’s an engagement in this
Es munde di voti nikdi boy’s house
Oh! khandi choori, kutdi This boy’s wife is short
Kut! Kut! Bharaya thaal woti She eats and grinds choori
bave nananaa nal She grinds. She grinds. With
filled plate she sits with her
Ninaan te wadi parjaee sisters-in-law
So kudma de ghar aayee! With the Sister-in-law is the
mein lohri lain aayee! elder son’s wife
They are in their in-laws house
I have come to take my Lohri.

1. Traditional Lohri Song

 Sunder mundriye ho!
Tera kaun vicaharaa ho!
Dullah bhatti walla ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho!
Ser shakkar payee ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka ho!
Kudi da saalu paatta ho!
Salu kaun samete!
Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti!
Zamindaar sudhaye!
bade bhole aaye!
Ek bhola reh gaya!
Sipahee far ke lai gaya!
Sipahee ne mari eet!
Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi!(Cry or howl!)
Bhaanvey ro te bhaanvey pit!

Translation

"Sunder mundriye ho(Sunder and munder are the name of girls here)
Who will think about you
He is dulla bhatti( a dacoit like robinhood who use to loot the riches
and help the poor) Dulla's daughter got married
(Dulla bhatti help them married with their grooms by considering
them his daughters) He gave 1 kg 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 then!
Lots of innocent guys came to save
One innocent boy got left behind
The police arrested him!
The policeman hit him with a brick!
Cry or howl!
Give us lohri ..long live your couple!
Whether you cry, or bang your head later!