The festival
of harvest, Lohri is being celebrated today in North India especially in
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Chandigarh. Lohri marks the
end of the long nights of winter and welcomes the longer days of summer, as the
Sun begins its journey to the Northern Hemisphere. Lohri is celebrated with a
bonfire.
The festival
is mostly associated with crop harvesting and happiness, It also encouraged a
sense of community and unity. Several young married couples also pray for a
child during Lohri celebrations and those who get child also celebrate it with
great fervour.
Another myth
about the beginnings of the Lohri festival revolves around the story of Dulla
Bhatti – a robber who reportedly saved girls from getting sold. Popcorns,
peanuts, Rewari and Gajak are distributed to all neighbours, friends and
relatives on the occasion.