Cabinet ministers, officials join residents to celebrate Lohri

abinet Ministers Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Harbhajan Singh ETO along with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney joined residents to celebrate Lohri. They visited several institutions to participate in the festivities. Dhaliwal started the day by celebrating the first Lohri of newborn girls and their families at the Civil Hospital in Ajnala. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur and her team were present while Dhaliwal congratulated families of newborn daughters on the holy festival of Lohri. He distributed Lohri — comprising peanuts, jiggery, sweets and goodies — among those present on the occasion.

Dhaliwal said he prays to God that these daughters should learn to read and write and bring honour to their families and the country. He said it’s was commendable that Amritsar had a women as senior administrative officers, including the DC, Additional Deputy Commissioners , two SDMs, Civil Surgeon and more.

On the occasion, the minister also announced that a machine to clean ambulances and air-conditioners would be provided to the Ajnala Civil Hospital.

Later, Dhaliwal joined Harbhajan Singh ETO and DC Sakshi Sawhney to celebrate Lohri with inmates of Manawala branch of Pingalwara. Dhaliwal presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh from his discretionary fund to Pingalwara Society as Lohri for the development and education of children with special needs.

While celebrating Lohri with children of Pingalwara, Harbhajan Singh ETO said today he felt happy that he had come to such an institution where free food, free accommodation and education were provided to the helpless, homeless and other needy people.

ETO said the festival of Lohri brought warmth and inspired everyone to head in the right direction.

The Voice of Amritsar celebrated Lohri with children of Central Khalsa Orphanage, Putlighar. Sharing details about the event, NGO president Indu Aurora said sports equipment and food items were distributed among children as Lohri gifts. Executive members of the NGO assured that they would continue to provide every possible help to children in the future.

Phulkari, Women of Amritsar (WOA), celebrated Lohri at the School of Eminence, Karampura, which has a special resource centre for children with special needs. The Lohri celebrations were organised for students who were receiving training under “The learning programme” conducted by the Phulkari WOA for children from the lower income bracket. Programme heads Sangeeta Seth and Rajni Bajaj organised the celebrations. The celebrations included graduation ceremony of 54 students on successful completion of computer training under “The learning programme”. Students were awarded certificates by founder Praneet Bubber, president, Phulkari, WOA