Festivals are the means of enjoyment and fun. We all love celebrating different festivals. Isn’t it true? Moreover, we all love one or the other festivals as our favorite ones. There are different types of festivals celebrated in India. It is because of the diversity of the people in the nation. The diversity of people in India is the reason for different types of culture and traditions in the nation. People living in different parts of the nation celebrate different festivals according to their own culture and tradition. Every festival celebrated in the nation has its own significance behind its celebration.
1) Lohri is the main festival of Punjab.
2) Every year Lohri is celebrated on 13 January in India.
3) The North Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh mainly observe this festival.
4) ‘Dulla Bhatti’ is one of the famous stories associated with the Lohri celebration.
5) This festival remarks the ending of the winter season.
6) It is a harvest festival in which people thank God for the good harvest.
7) Flying kite is the main tradition on this day.
8) In the evening, people gather at one place and bonfires were lit up.
9) People celebrate this festival by singing and dancing around the bonfires.
10) Various sweet dishes made up of sesame and jaggery are prepared on this day.
I think that you all have heard about Lohri that is the famous festival of Punjab. This topic is very important for the school students and different competitive exams. I have provided a detailed essay on this topic. It will be an aid to students of classes 1-12, and college students in helping them to write an essay on Lohri Festival of Punjab.
Introduction
India is a country where people celebrate different types of festivals throughout the year. There might be no month in a year that would have no festivals in it. Every festival is celebrated by performing its rituals according to the specific culture and tradition. There are many festivals in the nation that is related to a particular community or religion but is celebrated by the people throughout the nation with great joy. Lohri is also a famous festival celebrated in India. The essay provided below will elaborate on the festival of Lohri, when it is celebrated, its importance, way of celebration, etc.
What is Lohri?
Lohri is a festival that is categorized as a folk festival of India and is celebrated every year on 13th January. This festival of Lohri is mainly celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh states situated in North India. Yet, it is marked as the famous festival of Punjab as the legends and mythologies related with the celebration of the festival are linked to the region of Punjab state. The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and some Muslims. In past, the celebration of the festival of Lohri was restricted to the region of Punjab but at present, it is celebrated in different parts of India and the world.
Mythology/History Behind Celebrating Lohri
The celebration of the festival of Lohri came has its existence from the establishment of the Indus valley civilization. The festival is celebrated by the people since those times. There are several mythologies and stories linked with the origin of the festival. Many have a religious connection while others are related to the old culture and tradition. Dulla Bhatti’s tale is stated as the most popular and accepted story behind celebrating the festival of Lohri.
Story Of Dulla Bhatti-
Lohri Celebrated With Different Names
It is evident that Lohri is the famous festival of Punjab and is celebrated by the people of Punjab with great fervor and joy. Lohri is also stated by different names such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in U.P, Bihar, and West Bengal, Bihu in Assam, and Thai Pongal in Kerela. This festival is celebrated by people living in different parts of India according to their own culture and traditions.
Importance Of Festival Of Lohri
I hope that the question ‘Why do we celebrate the Lohri festival’ has often come to your mind. The festival of Lohri has great significance behind its celebration. The festival of Lohri is celebrated a day before the Maghi that is also termed as the Makar Sankranti according to the Vikrami Calendar. The festival is signified as a harvest festival and commemorates the harvesting of the winter crops. The celebration of the festivity marks a goodbye to the winter season. It marks the onset of longer days and shorter nights. It happens because of the movement of the sun to the northern hemisphere.
Lohri is stated as a harvest festival as it marks the harvest of the Rabi or winter crops like sesame, jaggery, radish, mustard, spinach, rice, etc. People prepare sweet dishes like revari, gajak, etc using the newly harvested products. The celebration of Lohri is done to pray and thank god for a good harvest at present and to pray bestow his blessings in the future too.
Celebration Of Lohri Festival
The festival of Lohri is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in the Punjab state of India. People celebrate the festivity according to the culture and traditions by performing all the rituals. They spend a good time with family and friends. There are certain rituals that are performed while celebrating the beautiful festival of Lohri and those rituals are mentioned below:
The Trend Of Lohri Celebration At Present
The celebration of Lohri at present also takes place by performing all the rituals involved in the festival. There are some of the changes that have been induced in the celebration of the festivity. Earlier people only exchanged the sweet dishes they prepared on this occasion. Nowadays, people give gifts to each other at the festival. Mostly the elders provide gifts to all the younger ones. The younger ones receive gifts and blessings from their elders. Gifts are also exchanged among friends and relatives too.
The Tradition Of Kite Flying In Lohri
There is a famous tradition of kite flying or organizing kite flying competitions in the festival of Lohri. Kite flying competitions are organized at different levels on the occasion of the festival of Lohri. There are awards of prize money distributed to the winners of the kite flying competitions held in different regions of the nation. It is believed that kite flying makes people come into the sunlight and that is good for health during the winter months. Moreover, the beautiful kites decorating the sky on this day are meant for thanksgiving to the Sun god for his blessings.
Is Lohri a Religious Or Harvest Festival?
Lohri is a festival that is celebrated at the beginning month of the year. It is basically stated as an important festival of Hindus and Sikhs. There are some popular religious stories behind the celebration of this festival. Moreover, the festival marks the end of winters and the onset of the spring season. It is the time for harvesting the Rabi crops by the farmers. Harvest festivals are commemorated when crops are ready to be cut. They are celebrated by different names in different parts of the nation. Therefore, Lohri is stated as the harvest festival of Punjab. The rituals in the festivity mainly include the rituals of thanksgiving to the Sun, earth; fire God for granting a good harvest season. Moreover, people also pray that this blessing may last forever. Thus, it will be more appropriate to state Lohri as a harvest festival rather than calling it a religious festival.
Why Do Farmers Celebrate Lohri?
India is an agriculture-dominated nation and more than 60% of people in the nation are farmers and depend on agriculture for earning their livelihood. Lohri is a harvest festival that mainly commemorates the harvest of Rabi crops. It is therefore stated as an important festival for farmers. The farmers on this day celebrate the good harvest of the Rabi crops. They thank God for showering his blessings on them and continue this for the future too. They worship to Sun, earth, and fire on this day and give a first offering of the newly produced crops in the bonfire lighted during the evening on the day of the Lohri celebration.
Conclusion
Festivals teach us to forget all kinds of enmity and live together with each other. It also helps us to know respect our culture and tradition. Lohri is the most awaited festival in the Punjab state of India. It is a festival that spreads the message of love and unity among the people. The people on the occasion of this festival become united together, sing, dance and enjoy the celebration. They also spend a good time with their family and friends along with enjoying the sweet dishes prepared on this occasion.
I have tried to provide all the details of the Lohri celebration in this essay. I hope that you will love reading the essay on Lohri that is written in an easy format.
Read More :
Essay on Parakram Diwas in India
Ans. The term ‘Lohri’ refers to the treats that are collected by children during the festival.
Ans. The songs in the praise of Dulla Bhatti are sung on the day of the Lohri festival.
Ans. The festival of Lohri is celebrated to thank god for the annual harvest.
Ans. People worship The Sun: God of Fire on the festival of Lohri.
Ans. ‘Tilodi’ was the name of the Lohri festival in the past.
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