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    to death by the Mughal king for revolting against him. The tribal mirasis (street singers) trace thehistory of the tribe and interestingly, claim Maharaja Ranjit Singh as one of its scions.

    D ulla Bhatti, like Robin Hood , robbed the rich and gave to the poor. The people of the area lovedand respected him. He once rescued a girl from kidnappers and adopted her as his daughter. Hispeople would remember their hero every year on Lohri. Groups of children moved from door todoor, singing the Dulla Bhatti folk-song: " D ulla Bhatti ho! D ulle ne dhi viyahi ho! Ser shakar pai ho!" (Dulla gave his daughter a kilo of sugar as a marriage gift).

    Lohri is essentially a festival dedicated to fire and the sun god. It is the time when the suntransits the zodiac sign Makar (Capricorn) , and moves towards the north. In astrological terms,this is referred to as the sun becoming Uttarayan. The new configuration lessens the ferocity of winter, and brings warmth to earth. It is to ward off the bitter chill of the month of January thatpeople light bonfires, dance around it in a mood of bonhomie and celebrate Lohri.

    Fire is associated with concepts of life and health. Fire, like water , is a symbol of transformationand regeneration . It is the representative of the sun, and is thus related, on the one hand withrays of light, and on the other with gold. It is capable of stimulating the growth of cornfields andthe well being of man and animals. It is the imitative magic purporting to assure the supply of light and heat. It is also an image of energy and spiritual strength. That is why the Lohri fire getssanctified and is venerated like a deity. On this occasion, people offer peanuts, popcorn and sweets made of til- chirva, gajak and revri to propitiate fire as a symbol of the sun god

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    ORIGIN OF LOHRI

    The origin of the Lohri can be traced back to the tale of D ulla Bhatti . By the end of the firstweek of January, small groups of boys ring the doorbell of houses and start chanting the Lohrisongs related to Dulla Bhatti. In turn, the people give them popcorn, peanuts, crystal sugar,sesame seeds (til) or gur as well as money. Turning them back empty-handed is regardedinauspicious.

    Lohri marks the end of winter on the last day of Paush , and beginning of Magha (around January12 and 13), when the sun changes its course. It is associated with the worship of the sun and fireand is observed by all communities with different names, as Lohri is an exclusively Punjabifestival . The questions like When it began and why is lost in the mists of antiquity.

    The origin of Lohri is related to the central character of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a

    Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Besidesrobbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of theMiddle East. He arranged their marriages to Hindu boys with Hindu rituals and provided themwith 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.

    Some believe that Lohri has derived its name from Loi , the wife of Sant Kabir , for in ruralPunjab Lohri is pronounced as Lohi . Others believe that Lohri comes from the word 'loh', a thick iron sheet tawa used for baking chapattis for community feasts. Another legend says that Holikaand Lohri were sisters . While the former perished in the Holi fire, the latter survived. Eating of

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

    Ceremonies that go with the festival of Lohri usually comprises of making a small image of theLohri goddess with gobar (cattle dung), decorating it, kindling a fire beneath it and chanting itspraises. The final ceremony is to light a large bonfire at sunset, toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries in it, sit round it, sing, dance till the fire dies out. People take dying embersof the fire to their homes. In Punjabi village homes, fire is kept going round the clock by use of cow-dung cakes.

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    LOHRI AND WIN T ER SOLS T ICE

    INDIAN ORIGINS

    Lohri is the Punjabis' and Dogras' 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 theBikrami 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 thedays begin to get longer. Accordingly, winter solstice begins on December 21 or December 22and Lohri ought to be celebrated a day before winter solstice.

    LINK T O MAKAR SANKRAN T I

    With the formulation of the Bikrami calendar, Lohri has been twinned with the Hindu winter solstice festival of Makar Sankranti which relates to the Sun's entry into the new sign,

    Due to the link of Lohri to the Bikrami calendar, the true origin of Lohri has become blurred.People often say that Lohri must be celebrated on the last day of Paush but also refer to Lohriday being the shortest in the year. This creates confusion when explaining the significance of Lohri as two festivals with different origins have become linked as they both relate to the winter solstice.

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    SEASONAL FES T IVAL

    Punjabis, irrespective of their religion, continue to practice their Punjabi Folk Religion. Respectto the seasons and the natural elements of fire, wind, water and the earth is very important. Lohriis a festival dedicated to the end of the Winter season

    LOHRI AND HARVES T FES T IVAL

    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 goodharvest.

    LOHRI AND T HE FINANCIAL NEW YEAR

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

    DULLA BHA TT I

    Over time, people have associated Lohri to the tale of Dulla Bhatti.[2]

    The central character of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab during the reignof Emperor Akbar. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to besold in slave market of the Middle East. He arranged their marriages to Hindu boys with Hindurituals 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.

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    O T HER LEGENDS OF T HE ORIGIN OF LOHRI

    LOI

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

    LOH

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

    HOLIKA, LOHRI AND PRAHLAD

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

    CUS T OMS AND T RADI T IONS OF LOHRI

    The various customs and traditions attached to the festival of Lohri signifies the harvesting of the Rabi crops . The people of Northern India, especially Punjab and Haryana celebrate Lohri, tomark the end of winter . Harvested fields and front yards are litup with flames of bonfires, aroundwhich people gather to meet friends and relatives and sing folk songs. For Punjabis, this is morethan just a festival; it is also an example of their love for celebrations. Lohri celebrates fertilityand the joy of life. People gather around bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into theflames, sing popular and folksongs and exchange greetings.

    In the morning, children go from door to door singing songs in praise of D ulha Bhatti , a Punjabiversion of Robin Hood who robbed from the rich and helped the poor. These visitors are usuallygiven money as they knock on their neighbors doors. In the evening, people gather aroundbonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice, and popcorn into the flames, sing popular folk songs andexchange greetings.

    T he Bonfire Customs & T radition In the evening, with the setting of the sun, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in thefront yards of houses and people gather around the rising flames, circle around (parikrama) the

    bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies into the fire, shouting " Aadar ayedilather jaye " (May honor come and poverty vanish!), and sing popular folk songs. This is a sortof prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance and prosperity.

    After the parikrama , people meet friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, anddistribute prasad (offerings made to god). The prasad comprises five main items: til, gajak,jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn . Winter savories are served around the bonfire with the traditional

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    dinner of makki-ki-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-ka-saag (cooked mustardherbs).

    On the Lohri day everyone gets into their best clothes and is festive. Gifts of sweets areexchanged. The courtyard and rooms of the house are swept and sprinkled with water. As the sunsets, all people dress up in their best and gather around the bonfire. Newly wed ones wear jewelery. The new-born are given little combs to hold. The a burning fagot is brought from thehearth and sets the Lohri bonfire alight. As the flames leap up, the girls throw sesame seed inthem and bow. Someone sings:

    Let purity come, dirt departDirt be uprooted and its roots Cast in the fire.

    People throw sticks of sugarcane into the fire and an aroma of burning sugar spreads in the

    atmosphere. Girls light fireworks and sparklers. The fire's glow lights faces with a golden hue.People sing and dance till the early hours of the morning, and little children sleep in their mother's laps.

    When people throw sesame seeds in the fire they ask for sons. The saying is: As many as theelder brother's wife throws, so many sons the younger brother's wife will bear. That is why inhomes where there is a new-born son or a newly wed man, Lohri is celebrated with even greater enthusiasm, and sweets made of molasses and sesame seed are sent to relatives and friends.Since the Punjabi word for sesame seed is til and for molasses rorhi the festival is also called Tilori.

    Lohri is also an occasion when parents give presents to their newly married daughters . "For peasants, Lohri marks the beginning of a new financial year because on this day they settle thedivision of the products of the land between themselves and the tillers.

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    T IL 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 toLohri.

    DA T E

    According to the Bikrami calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Paush i.e. around 13 January, asper the Gregorian calendar. It is, actually, celebrated a day before Makara Sankranthi, as it marksthe end of the winter season. Makara sankranti marks beginning of the solar maagha masa, andLohri must be celebrated on the last day of the solar Dhanur masa, which also marks the exit of the sun from D hanu 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.

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    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 atnight 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 imageof the Lohri goddess is made with gobar (cattle dung) decorating it, kindling a fire beneath it andchanting its praises. In other parts, the Lohri fire consists of cow dung and wood with noreference to the Lohri goddess.

    The bonfire is lit at sunset in the main village square. People toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candyand rewaries on the bonfire, sit around it, sing and dance till the fire dies out. Some peopleperform 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.

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    CELEBRA T IONS

    Punjabi woman waiting to participate in Gidda

    While Lohri is essentially a Punjabi festival, it is celebrated in some other states of North Indiaas well. In cities like Delhi, which have a predominant Punjabi population, 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. Lohrirituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs.

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

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    LOHRI CALENDAR

    Lohri is on 13th January, 2011, Wednesday

    Festival of Lohri is celebrated on January 13 every year. Date of the festival depends on solar calendar hence it remains the same always. Lohri date is auspicious and significant for Hindus.On January 13 every year sun begins its Uttarayan journey (northward journey) and takes entryin to Makar Rashi or Tropic of Capricorn. The period of Uttarayan (January 14 to July 14) isconsidered propitious by Hindus. According to Bhagwat Gita, Lord Krishna manifests himself inhis full magnificence during this time.

    Lohri marks the coldest day in northern India. The earth is farthest away from the sun at this time

    and begins its journey towards the sun on Lohri. Hence bonfire Festival of Lohri marks the endof cold month of Paush and beginning of Magh or the arrival of spring. This shift in season givespeople all the more reason to celebrate. Lohri also marks the last day of the month of Maargazhi,the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

    Festival of Lohri is succeeded by Makar Sankranthi - a popular festival in central India. Theauspicious day of Makar Sankranti (January 14) is celebrated as Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Pongal in South India and Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh.

    Lohri Calendar 2011

    LOHRI 2011

    DATE FESTIVAL

    13th January 2011 Lohri

    Lohri Calendar 2009

    LOHRI 2009

    DATE FESTIVAL

    13th January 2009 Lohri

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    Lohri Calendar 2008

    LOHRI 2008

    DATE FESTIVAL

    13th January 2008 Lohri

    Lohri Calendar 2007

    LOHRI 2007

    DATE FESTIVAL

    13th January 2007 Lohri

    Lohri Calendar 2006

    LOHRI 2006

    DATE FESTIVAL

    13th January 2006 Lohri

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    LOHRI SONGS

    By the end of the first week of January, small groups of boys go ringing doorbells and chantingsome kind of doggerel with each line ending in ho. Lohri songs are rhymed nonsense, at timesvery funny For example:

    Saalee paireen jutteeJeevey Sahib dee kutteeKuttee no nikalya phoraahJeevey sahib da ghorahGhorey uttay kaatheeJeevey sahib da haatheeHaathee neh maarya padd

    Dey maaee daanya da chajj

    (My sister-in-law has slippers on her feet/ Long may live the Sahibs bitch./ The bitch developeda sore/ Long live the Sahibs horse./ The horse has a saddle/ Long live the Sahibs elephant/ Theelephant let out a loud fart/ Hey old woman give us Basket full of Popcorns.)

    Also every other Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti(The 'ho's are inchorus)

    Sunder mundriye ho! Tera kaun vicaharaa ho! D ullah bhatti walla ho! D ullhe di dhee vyayae ho! Ser shakkar payee ho! Kudi da laal pathaka ho! Kudi da saalu paatta ho! Salu kaun samete!

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    Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti! Z amindaar 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!

    T RANSLA T ION

    Beautiful girlWho will think about youHe is dulla bhatti Dulla's daughter got marriedHe 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 cameOne innocent boy got left behindThe 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!

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    LOHRI IN T ODAY'S T IME

    Nowadays, people are combining Lohri celebration with a bit of modernization. Instead of gifting the traditional gajaks and til (sesame), people gift chocolate cakes with til and chocolategajaks. People are also growing more conscious about environment protection and preservationduring Lohri. As cutting of trees for the wood is required to light bon-fire during Lohri, somestudents and people compensate for the same. They try to plant new trees and saplings tocompensate for the trees which have been cut