Lohri celebrated in Punjab with message of dignity for daughters
Punjab celebrated Lohri with remarkable cultural splendour, emotional warmth and a deep sense of social commitment, as grand community events in Ghurka near Goraya, Phagwara and Kapurthala turned the traditional festival into a celebration of dignity, equality and pride for daughters.
At Johal Farm in village Ghurka, the Johal Farm Sewa Samaj, in collaboration with Satnam Singh Bahrra, organised one of the largest Lohri gatherings in the region, where nearly 5,100 families participated along with new-born girls. The celebration began with traditional rituals performed by Sant Gurcharan Singh Poadhwala, followed by vibrant folk performances and enthusiastic community participation. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, attended the event as the chief guest along with Punjab Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lally Gill, Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, former MP Sardar Partap Singh Bajwa, Ex-MLA Joginder Singh Mann, former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, AAP MLA Narinderpal Singh, NRIs and several distinguished personalities. The gathering not only reflected Punjab’s rich cultural heritage but also strengthened a collective resolve to promote respect and equal dignity for girl children.
In Phagwara, Lohri celebrations resonated with the same fervour under the leadership of former Union Minister and former Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Vijay Sampla. The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the Lohri bonfire by Sant Gurcharan Singh of Nirmal Kutia (Chhamb Wali), after which the atmosphere came alive with folk songs, dances and festive cheer. Dedicated to 1,100 new-born girls, the celebration carried a strong social message, symbolising encouragement to families welcoming daughters. Vijay Sampla distributed warm clothes, toys and shagun items, reaffirming that daughters are the pride and true wealth of families and stressing that modern society must reject any discrimination between sons and daughters.
Reinforcing the same message, the Civil Surgeon Office Kapurthala celebrated “Dheean Di Lohri” under the leadership of Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjeev Bhagat to honour newborn girls and promote gender equality. Across all venues, dignitaries, community leaders and citizens applauded the inclusive spirit of celebrations, recognising Lohri not just as a festival of warmth and seasonal transition, but as a meaningful platform to promote social consciousness, equality and dignity for girls.
