Pher aa Gayi Bhangre d vari,
Lohri Manaun d karo Taiyari,
Agg de kol saare aao,
Sundariye Mundariye jor naal gao!!!!!!

Mitha gurth te vich mil gia til,

Uddi ptang te khil geya dil,

Har pal sukh te har din shanti pao,

Rab agge dua tusi Lohri khushian naal manao…. Happy LOHRI.

Centuries ago, rulers of Delhi controlled large parts of the fertile province of Punjab. However, due to weak governments at Delhi, there was a perennial flow of hordes of invaders from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Persia, Greece and Asia Minor through the Khyber Pass into the sub-continent and the people of Punjab always had to bear the maximum brunt of their pilferage, loot and plunder.

There is a vast tract of semi-arid region lying between rivers Chenab and Ravi, which now falls in the districts of Sheikhupura and Faislabad, called the Saandal Bar. The people of this area were known to provide stiffest opposition to marauders. The Mahmud of Ghaznawi had carried out one special campaign to subdue the burly and bold Virk Jatts, Gurjars and Bhatti Rajputs of Saandal Bar. Even Babur makes a mention of the resistance offered to him by these chivalrous people in his autobiography ‘Baburnama.’ From a social point of view these valiant tribesmen had a very secular outlook and their lifestyle was a composite blend of Hindu and Islamic rituals and traditions. In due course of time, the Mughals had consolidated their hold over the entire country but dominance of the region lying between the Chenab and Ravi, eluded them. People of this area never paid any taxes rather they openly defied the authorities and indulged in looting the royal caravans and treasures.

‘Saandal’, a warlord of Bhatti Rajput clan led these tribals. He openly rebelled against the Mughal Imperialism. Prince Jahangir, the heir apparent fired with zeal to prove his prowess carried out campaigns to consolidate the Mughal authority in the region. There were many skirmishes in which Saandal and his son Farid were captured and executed. Their skins were peeled from dead bodies, filled with chaff and hanged at the Delhi gate of the Fort of Lahore to instill a sense of fear amongst the rebels.

However, son of Farid, Abdullah or Dullah as he is fondly called remained unfazed and continued his defiant activities during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Dullah earned notoriety in the eyes of authorities. He looted wealthy landlords and Imperial officers and distributed the booty amongst the poor. Dullah enjoyed huge popularity amidst the poor tribal folks of the area. He came to be regarded as a father figure for the distressed and oppressed. He became a living embodiment of the chivalrous and secular, socio-cultural character of the region. Legendary stories are associated with this brave Dulha Bhatti.

Dulla Bhatti, like Robin Hood (hero of all Panjabis), robbed the rich and gave to the poor and needy. The people of the area loved and respected him. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls forcibly taken to be sold in salve market of the Middle East in Bharat. He arranged their marriages to Hindu boys with Hindu rituals and provided them with dowries. He once rescued a girl from kidnappers and adopted her as his daughter (It is believed that Dullah had restored the prestige of an innocent girl whose modesty was outraged by a wealthy Zamindar).

There are various versions of the actual story. Some traditions say that Dullah had adopted this girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage in the Jungles of ‘Saandal Bar’ near to a village. As there was no priest nearby to chant the Vedic Hymns and solemnize the marriage. Dullah had lit a bonfire and ask bride and groom to take pheras of the bonfire. Dullah and villagers composedsang this hilarious song:

Sundri Mundri Hei! Hoi!

Tera Kaun Bechara! Hoi!

Dullah Bhatti wala! Hoi!

Dullah Di Dhi viyahi ! Hoi !

Sher ShaKar pai! Hoi!

Kuri de Mamme aaye! Hoi!

UnaNe ChuRi Kuti! Hoi!

Jimidari Lutti! Hoi!

Ik kola GhuT Gaya!

Jimidar Apni......

His people would remember their hero every year on Lohri and people offer peanuts, popcorn and sweets made of til- chirva, gajak and revri – to propitiate fire as a symbol of the sun god. Groups of children moved from door to door (Ukhali che dana, Lohri lene jana) singing this traditional folk-song (Sundri Mundri Hei Hoi, Tera Kaun Bechara! Hoi.....  in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a thief who helped the poor and fought for their rights) and demanding the Lohri 'loot' in the form of money and eatables like til (sesame) seeds, peanuts, jaggery, or sweets like gajak, rewri, etc.

After taking Lohri goods from one house, they sing:

“Dabba bharaya leera da”

“Ai ghar ameera da”

Translation: Box filled of cloths strips..this house is of the rich!

If any house taking time for giving Lohri goods, then they sing:

Tere Kothe Utte mor, sanu cheti cheti toor

And those who weren't that generous had to face a bunch of kids chanting the following:

“Hukka bhai Hukkaa”

“Ai ghar bhukka”

Translation: Hukka! Oh! Hukka!..this house is full of misers!

They believe in celebrating this harvest festival together and rejoicing it to the fullest. For the masses this festival is a popular occasion for social gathering and enjoyment. They make a bonfire and roast 'fresh chholia' (green gram) in pods with its leaves and stems intact, and eat it. They also sing and dance sitting around the fire. Lohri is thus a community festival and is always celebrated by getting together with neighbors and the relatives.

The final ceremony is to light a large bonfire at sunset, toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries in it, sit round it, sing, dance till the fire dies out. There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolises a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity. People take dying embers of the fire to their homes along with prasad that comprises of five main items: til (gingelly) , gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup) , gur (jaggery) , moongphali (peanuts) , and phuliya (popcorn). The traditional dinner with makki ki roti and sarson ka saag is quintessential.

Therefore, the festival of Lohri has great social significance. This time is considered auspicious for marriages and to undertake new ventures. The farmer, comparatively free from his yeoman's duties, takes to fun and frolic. The golden color of the ripening corn in the fields pleases him. For newly-weds and newborns, Lohri is a special occasion. Families of the bride and groom get together and celebrate by dancing around the fire and expressing their joy. Lohri is a grand event of social and cultural integration, bringing about unity, amity, harmony among all castes and communities.

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Lohri Diyan sabna-nu Lakh-lakh vadhaeeyan

aap g nu v Happy Lohri Veer g...

te thanks for sharing this information....