Lohri: Bonfire night!

Lohri, pronounced almost as Lohrdi, is a Punjabi festival meant to be celebrated on the longest night of the year. It falls on January 13 (Mom's birthday :D).

Lohri originated in the villages of Punjab as a winter harvest festival. It signals the beginning of spring and the return of longer days. It's importance lies not only in celebration but in identifying when to harvest certain crops.

Celebrations involve a huge bonfire with singing and dancing. Moongphali (Peanuts) and popcorn are tossed into the fire as offerings. The origins of the festival boil down to a primitive fire worship, where fire signifies life, health and growth. Both Hindus and Sikhs celebrate the occasion. Although Hindus have few extra rituals--including building a replica lohri goddess out of cow dung--most other customs are the same.

A family who has had a birth (usually of a boy) or marriage within the last year typically hosts a lohri celebration at their home, or in a hall if in America. The bonfire lasts late into the night, revelers dance to bhangra and the women to giddha. The peanuts and popcorn crackle and explode in the fire, which is always fun to watch. The traditional meal served on Lohri is saag (spinach) and makki roti (maize chapatis), which is yummy any time of the year. :D

Singing songs related to Lohri is a custom not often practiced in America. In India, boys go door to door singing a rhyming, nonsensical song about the vagabond hero, Dulla Bhatti, in exchange for sweets. Refusing them is usually a bad omen for the coming year.

The hero, Dulla Bhatti, was a Muslim Robin Hood. He lived in the Punjabi countryside during Emperor Akbar's reign stealing from the rich and rescuing kidnapped damsels in distress. Upon their safe return the girls' families would not want to deal with their stained honor, so beloved Bhatti would arrange their marriages AND provide the dowry. So the rebel became a living legend.

The End

Links:

Lohri Festival
Wiki
Lohri Songs
Dulla Bhatti
More Dulla Bhatti

Diwali: The Festival of Lights

The Indian festival of Diwali is celebrated on the new moon typically in October, sometimes falling in November. In North America, the new moon appeared last Saturday on the 17th.

On Diwali, it is customary to clean the house, string up lights, launch fireworks and share sweets. My mom's habit is to make sure we don't accept sweets from anyone in case they're drugged (-.-') We lit our own deewey this year. A deewa is a small clay lamp filled with oil and a wick that you can light once it is dark, or at the first sight of the moon, and you let them burn through the night. There is more celebration in larger Indian communities, usually a mela or festival, retelling of the stories, mock battles and plays.

This year, President Obama lit a deeva in honor of Diwali. Here is his Diwali message:


Many Indians celebrate Diwali as the festival of lights and the victory of knowledge over ignorance. They are often associated with specific events in the histories of several different religions.

If you have ever heard of the epic Ramayan, Diwali celebrates the return of King Ram after defeating the evil Ravan. It is also associated with Krishna's defeat of the demon king Narakasur.

In Sikhism, Diwali is associated with the release of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji. Guruji, along with 52 Hindu kings and princes, was imprisoned for political reasons by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. After meeting Guruji in person, Emperor Jahangir had gained respect for him and granted his release. However, Guru Hargobind would only leave Fort Gwalior if the Hindu kings could accompany him. Emperor Jahangir gave Guruji his wish with the condition that he could take as many kings with him as could grab onto his coat tails. So Guruji commissioned a shawl with a long tail and 52 tassels for each of the kings. He walked out of the fort with 52 Hindu rajas gripping onto his clothes. He arrived in Amritsar on Diwali, where the Harminder Sahib, the Golden Temple, was lit with divas. This event is called Bandi Chhore Divas, the day of the release of prisoners.

Happy Diwali, everyone!