Sunder mundriye ho! (Hey, Sundari and Mundari – two girls)
Tera kaun vicharaa ho! (Who is there to look after you?)
Dulla Bhatti walla ho! (He is Dulla, hailing from the Bhatti village)
Dulle di dhee vyayae ho! (He marries you both off as his own daughters)
Ser shakkar payee ho! (With a gift of 1 kilograms of sugar)
Kudi da laal pathaka ho! (The girl is draped in the red suit)
Kudi da saalu paata ho! (Her stole got torn)
Salu kaun samete ho! (Who will take care of her torn stole?)
and the song about Lohri wishes and tradition goes on. This lively folk song sung during the Lohri festival captures the spirit of this vibrant winter festival celebrated in the Punjab region of North India. The references to the Robinhood-esque figure of Dulla Bhatti, the sweets, the red outfit and songs, all symbolize the festivities, revelry and traditions of Lohri.
In this post, let’s learn all about the auspicious occasion of Lohri and how to wish your friends a Happy Lohri 2024 in the Punjabi language!
What Is Lohri?
The vibrant festival of Lohri marks the end of the winter solstice. It is celebrated on 13th January every year. It also coincides with Makar Sankranti and Pongal festivals celebrated in other regions of India. However, the festive occasion of Lohri holds cultural and religious significance for Sikhs and Hindus hailing from the Punjab region of the country.
The day after Lohri is celebrated as Maghi Sangrand, which marks the start of the month of Magh in Punjabi calendar. Lohri therefore represents the transition from the cold winter days to the warmer weather as spring approaches in a few weeks. It is seen as a harvest festival, with the Rabi crops reaching maturation.
The festival is associated with fertility and abundance, with bonfires lit to represent the spark of life. The Lohri season is seen as a time for families to get together, and celebrate with feasts, song, and dance. It fosters community ties, with people visiting friends and relatives and exchanging gifts and sweets.
Lohri Wishes And Greetings
On the day of Lohri, people share heartfelt wishes and messages with their loved ones. Here are some popular Lohri wishes and greetings:
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Lohri! | ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਮੁਬਾਰਕਾਂ! | Lōhaṛī dī’āṁ bahuta bahuta mubārakāṁ! |
| May the lohri bonfire burn away all the sadness and bring you joy. Joyous Lohri! | ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀ ਅੱਗ ਸਾਰੀ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਾੜ ਕੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵੇ। ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ! | Lōhaṛī dī aga sārī udāsī nū sāṛa kē tuhāḍē la’ī khuśī’āṁ lai kē āvē. Lōhaṛī mubāraka! |
| May you have a joyous and prosperous Lohri this year. Here’s sending my best wishes to you and your family. Happy Lohri! | ਇਹ ਸਾਲ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਨੰਦਮਈ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵੇ। ਇੱਥੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ ਭੇਜ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ। ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ! | Iha sāla tuhāḍē la’ī khuśahāla atē anadama’ī lōhaṛī lai kē āvē. Ithē tuhānū atē tuhāḍē parivāra nū mērī’āṁ śubhakāmanāvāṁ bhēja rihā hāṁ. Lōhaṛī mubāraka! |
| May the bonfire of Lohri fill your life with joy and prosperity. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Lohri. | ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀ ਅੱਗ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਨੂੰ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਨਾਲ ਭਰ ਦੇਵੇ। ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ। | Lōhaṛī dī aga tuhāḍē jīvana nū khuśī’āṁ atē khuśahālī nāla bhara dēvē. Tuhānū atē tuhāḍē parivāra nū lōhaṛī dī’āṁ bahuta bahuta vadhā’ī’āṁ. |
| Happy Lohri from me to you and your entire family! | ਮੇਰੇ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੇ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ-ਲੱਖ ਮੁਬਾਰਕਾਂ! | Mērē valōṁ tuhānū atē tuhāḍē sārē parivāra nū lōhaṛī dē ti’uhāra dī’āṁ lakha-lakha mubārakāṁ! |
| May this harvest festival fill your life with joy, prosperity and happiness. Happy Lohri! | ਇਹ ਵਾਢੀ ਦਾ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਨੂੰ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ, ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਨਾਲ ਭਰ ਦੇਵੇ। ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ! | Iha vāḍhī dā ti’uhāra tuhāḍī zidagī nū khuśī’āṁ, khuśahālī atē khuśahālī nāla bhara dēvē. Lōhaṛī mubāraka! |
| May the tunes of dhol and the warmth of lohri bring you happiness and joy. Happy Lohri to you! | ਢੋਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਧੁਨਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀ ਨਿੱਘ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਨੂੰ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਅਨੰਦ ਨਾਲ ਭਰ ਦੇਵੇ। ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ! | Ḍhōla dī’āṁ dhunāṁ atē lōhaṛī dī nigha tuhāḍē jīvana nū khuśī’āṁ atē anada nāla bhara dēvē. Tuhānū lōhaṛī mubāraka! |
| It is time to dance Bhangra and Giddha, It is time to celebrate Lohri! | ਭੰਗੜਾ ਗਿੱਧਾ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਵਾਰੀ ਏ, ਸਭ ਨੇ ਖਿੱਚੀ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮਨਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀ ਏ! | Bhagaṛā gidhā pā’uṇa dī vārī ē, sabha nē khicī lōhaṛī manā’uṇa dī ti’ārī ē! |
The Celebration
Lohri festivities start early, with people preparing traditional festive Lohri treats like gajjak, roasted peanuts, popcorns, and revdi. Houses are decorated with colorful rangoli designs to mark the occasion.
In the evening, groups gather around a bonfire which is lit as the main focal point. The flames represent the end of the winter chill and the promise of the longer, warmer days of spring and summer ahead.
Songs such as Sundar Mundariye are sung as people dance around the bonfire warmth. People throw peanuts, popcorn, and other offerings into the bonfire flame as they sing. There is merriment, dancing, and feasting late into the night.
On Lohri, families gather with great joy, celebrate with scores of delicacies, perform the traditional folk dance Bhangra, and wish each other a year full of happiness and prosperity. The elders in the family bless the newlywed couples and newborn babies as part of the festivities. They also give tokens of appreciation to the performers singing traditional Lohri songs.
Lohri is also an occasion for communities to come together, strengthening social bonds. People invite their friends and neighbors to light the holy bonfire together. They celebrate with them and exchange Lohri wishes and sweets.
In rural Punjab, Lohri celebrations are centered around the bonfire. People gather in their fields, sing folk songs, dance Bhangra on the dhol beats, and eat festive foods under the open sky. In urban areas, Lohri parties and events are organized by cultural organizations to bring people together.
Lohri Celebrations For Newly Weds & New Borns
Lohri holds even greater significance for newly married couples and those who have had a new baby in the past year. It marks fertility and the arrival of new life.
For newlyweds, the Lohri festival serves as an occasion to integrate a bride into her new family. She wears new clothes, takes gifts for her in-laws, and performs rituals around the sacred Lohri fire.
For those who have had a new baby, it is a chance to celebrate the arrival of the child. The infant is traditionally given their first solid food on Lohri in the form of the prasad of the festival. All eyes are on the baby during the celebrations.
The Legend Of Dulla Bhatti
The folk song Sundar Mundariye, an integral part of Lohri celebrations, celebrates the legend of Dulla Bhatti. He was a Robin Hood-esque figure during Akbar’s reign in Punjab who robbed from the rich to help the poor. As the song relates, Dulla Bhatti daringly rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in Arab slave markets. Two of them were named Sundri and Mundri, immortalized in the Lohri song about the courageous hero.
The song extols his defiant spirit against the mighty Mughals and his mission to provide for the downtrodden. With great courage he challenged the authority of the Emperor himself to bring justice to the oppressed. His deeds made him a champion of the people and a legendary folk hero in Punjab. The Lohri song commemorates Bhatti’s struggles against tyranny and the solace he brought to commoners in trying times.
Some suggest Lohri originated to honor Bhatti, who helped peasants through harsh winters. His soul of selflessness and sacrifice provides an inspiring tale remembered through this enduring folk melody. By singing about his exploits every Lohri, his daring spirit and commitment to equity continue to kindle the flames of hope and liberty. The legend of Dulla Bhatti represents a universal symbol of fighting oppression with bravery and humanism.
In The End…
The Lohri festival brings great joy and celebrates community, kinship, new beginnings, and the promise of the spring harvest. The sight of the Lohri bonfire and the sound of festive songs fosters an atmosphere of warmth, harmony, and hope for the coming season.
Happy Lohri to all!
