by Manjit Handa

Bonfires are as old as mankind. With the discovery of fire, primitive man used bonfires not only for warming his body from extreme cold or cooking meat (after he learnt that?), but also to protect himself from wild animals.

As Man grew more civilized, he made homes for himself. They protected him against rough weather and fire was still used for cooking and fireplaces. But the charisma of bonfire has somehow always lured mankind. Now bonfires have become more a fun-filled activity, especially popular in camps and outdoor activities. Not to undermine its significance, bonfires constitute a symbolic significance in various parts of the world still. Various tribes in different parts of the world still make bonfires during nights and that constitutes a social and congregational purpose. Pagans, we know worship the Fire-God and similarly Hinduism (the Indian religion) glorifies the Fire-God called Agni Devta. In fact there are festivals attributed to Bonfires in various parts of India and one such Bonfire Festival is called Lohri.

Celebrated in the Northern parts of India, especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, it falls mid January, (13th) or the month of Paush, the coldest month, according to the Hindu calendar. Just when the Rabi (winter crop) is in full bloom but not yet ripe enough for harvest, mainly comprising of wheat, the festival is celebrated with enthusiasm. This is generally a rest period for the farming families and they make bonfires and relax by singing and dancing to traditional folk songs.

As per the custom, children in the community go from door to door singing and demanding Lohri ‘loot’ in the form of money and eatables like sesame and jaggery squares (gajak and rewri) and peanuts. They also sing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi Robin Hood like figure who looted the rich to help the poor. He is known to take one of the poor miserable village belles as his sister and arranged her wedding.

With the setting of the Sun in the evening huge bonfires are lit in open spaces and people of the community gather around them singing songs and dancing while circling around the rising flames and throwing puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies shouting “Aadar aaye, Daliddar jaye” (May honor come and let poverty vanish). In other words it is a prayer to the Fire God asking for his blessings for abundance and prosperity. The dance of the men is called Bhangra and that of women is called Gidda and they all dance to the beats of traditional drums until late in the night.

Exhibiting exuberance, gaiety, enthusiasm and robust energy, Lohri is also symbolic of fertility. It stands not only for the fertility of the land but also the human race. This is why the first Lohri of a newly-wed couple and a new born child is celebrated with much more enthusiasm. The family that has either of these instances usually hosts the Lohri bonfire and dinner for the community.

For a Westerner, Lohri would be reminiscent of Thanksgiving; the universal code of celebration is always the same!

Bonfire at once becomes a symbol of revelry and lunacy, corporeal and spirituality, destruction and purification. Just another reminder that life is full of paradoxes, but that is what makes it an eternal continuum.

HAPPY LOHRI!