Lohri
Punjab’s bonfire night — popcorn and rewri in the flames, bhangra around them.
Why is Lohri celebrated?
Lohri is the winter-solstice bonfire of Punjab: the coldest stretch is ending, the sugarcane harvest is in, and families gather around fire to thank it and the sun. Homes with a new baby or a new marriage host the biggest fires — Lohri is above all a festival of new additions to the family.
The story behind Lohri
Songs around the fire remember Dulla Bhatti, a Robin-Hood rebel of Akbar’s time who rescued Punjabi girls from being sold, arranged their weddings and gave them dowries — "Sundar mundriye, ho!" Every Lohri fire keeps his memory as protector of daughters.
How Lohri is celebrated
At dusk the fire is lit; families circle it offering til, rewri, popcorn, moongphali and gajak into the flames, sing the Dulla Bhatti songs, and dance bhangra and gidda late. Children go door to door singing for Lohri treats in the days before — Punjab’s carolling.
Lohri across India
It pairs with Maghi (Sankranti) the next morning; in Himachal and Haryana similar fires burn; Sindhis mark Lal Loi. Wherever Punjabis live — Delhi to Toronto — the society bonfire travels along.
Lohri in housing societies
One good fire needs committee work: firewood, a safe clearance circle, a sand/extinguisher point and the treats to throw and share. Societies honour every new baby and newlywed couple of the year by name at the fire — a lovely register to keep. Collections are small and quick; even so, an open ledger keeps it clean.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dulla Bhatti?
A 16th-century Punjabi rebel who saved girls from slavery and married them off with dowries — Lohri’s songs honour him as protector of daughters.
Why are popcorn and rewri thrown into the fire?
They are the season’s harvest — offering the first share to Agni thanks the fire and sun for the crop, and the rest is shared as prasad.
What safety setup does a society bonfire need?
A clear-radius circle marked out, water/sand buckets and an extinguisher, a wind check, one supervising adult per side, and full dousing before dispersing.