Ludhiana: What’s Lohri without children going around chanting “sundar mundriye” in neighbourhoods, evoking generous gifts of moongfalli, gachak and rewri from resident families? So it was this year, despite it being a bitterly cold day.Dulla Bhatti was remembered yet again but elderly residents said few knew the man behind the festive chant. “While Lohri is celebrated and the folk song is sung, many people don’t realize its meaning, nor do they teach who Dulla Bhatti was. The new generation should be told about the history, tradition and legend,” said Gurdeep Kaur, a resident.
As dusk fell, bonfires lit up cold streets, literally warming up celebrations. Even as teeth chattered, the warmth of bonfires aided smooth flow of conversation, jokes, dhols and dances. People came together and offered prayers, starting celebrations by making the first offering of sesame seeds, jaggery and other goodies to the fire. Many residents observed that while many festive traditions have changed, adopting more cosmopolitan practices like gifts of chocolate, the festival of Lohri continues to celebrate the age old “til, gachak, moongfali, reodian and phulle.”“Lohri brings everyone together, no matter how busy life gets. Warming up around the bonfire in the evening feels like returning to our roots,” said Kamal, a resident.Beats of dhols and lively music echoed through neighbourhoods, signalling the joy and togetherness that the harvest festival brings.
