Fun-filled activities mark Lohri celebrations

Our Correspondent

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Phagwara,January 11

Staff and students of MLU DAV College, Phagwara, orgnaised a function to mark ‘Lohri’ on the college premises on Saturday. The event commenced with ‘Lohri Poojan’ and lighting the sacred bonfire. Principal acquainted the students with the importance of the festival wherein she told the gathering that “Lohri” was celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus all across the country. It marks the end of the winter season and welcomes the sun to the northern hemisphere, she added.

The principal said the festival was observed a night before “Makar Sankranti”, this occasion involves “puja parikarma” around the bonfire with ‘prasad’. During the day, children go from door to door singing folk songs. These children are given sweets and peanuts and occasionally money. Turning them back empty handed is regarded inauspicious. Families welcoming newly weds and newborns give grand parties.

The collection gathered by the children is known as “Lohri” and consists of til, gachak, crystal sugar, groundnuts, rewaries, jaggery and popcorn, added the principal. Principal further stated that the popular tale of “Lohri” of “Dulla Bhathi’ to the students. The central theme of many “Lohri” songs is the legend of “Dulla Bhathi” who lived in Punjab during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

He was regarded as a hero in Punjab for resuming Hindu girls in slave market of the middle east. Amongst those he saved two girls ‘Sundari’ and ‘Mundari’ who gradually became a theme of Punjab folklore, said the principal.

She also told the students that Lohri fire is considered as sacred and to pay reverence to it, “til”, “groundnuts”, “rewaries” and other food items are offered into it. Immersed in rich cultural folklore of Punjab, cultural items were presented by students of the college. Traditional punjabi songs mirroring the zestful Punjabi life were sung by the students by ther department of music.

The principal wished and prayed that may with each passing day, everyone have fun- filled festivals and celebrations.