L for Lohri

Lohri is a popular festival celebrated in the Punjab region of India. There are many origins of Lohri - all forming part of folklore. However, the main theme of Lohri is the belief that Lohri is the cultural celebration of the winter solstice and is understood to be started as celebration on the shortest day and longest night of the year.

However, instead of celebrating Lohri on the day winter solstice occurs, Punjabis celebrate it on the last day of the month during which winter solstice takes place. This is due to linking Lohri to the Bikrami calendar and the twinning of the festival with Makar Sankranti which is also festival of winter solstice celebrated across India (& in the Punjab region as Maghi Sangrand). Therefore, Lohri commemorates the passing of the winter solstice and is celebrated on 13^th January while Makar Sankranti on 14^th Jan.

Celebration

During the day, children go from door to door singing folk songs. These children are given sweets and savories, and occasionally, money. Turning them back empty-handed is regarded inauspicious. Where families are welcoming newly-weds and new borns, the requests for treats increases.

Women offering Lohri during Lohri Bonfire

The collections gathered by the children are known as Lohri and consist of til, gachchak, crystal sugar, gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Lohri is then distributed at night during the main festival which consists of bonfire and gathering around singing and dancing. Till, peanuts, popcorn and other food items are also thrown into the fire. 

Ground Nut , til etc for throwing in Lohri bonfire

The bonfire is lit at sunset in the main village square or at the entrance of their houses. People toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy, groundnut and rewaries on the bonfire, sit around it, sing and dance till the fire dies out. Some people perform a prayer and go around the fire. This is to show respect to the natural element of fire, a tradition common in winter solstice celebrations. It is traditional to offer guests til, gachchak, gur, moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Milk and water is also poured around the bonfire by Hindus. This ritual is performed for thanking the Sun God and seeking his continued protection.

Lohri celebration

 Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. Punjabi songs are sung, and everybody rejoices. Sarson da saag and makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner.

Girls Dancing on occasion of Lohri

It is traditional to eat Gajak, Sarson da saag with Makki di roti, radish, ground nuts and jaggery. It is also traditional to eat "til rice" which is made by mixing jaggery, sesame seeds and rice.

Kite flying on Lohri is popular in some parts of Punjab as the same is in parts of UP & MP on the occasion of Makar Sankranti the next day. People get onto the roof tops or open fields and fly kites of various sizes and colours.

Festival with same theme in other parts of India:

As already said Lohri coincides with the festivals of Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bhogali Bihu and Bhogi all of which are harvest festival of that region / winter solstice and is celebrated around the same time (13^th – 14^th January).

Aditya Sinha

11.04.2016

That’s for today with F. Tomorrow it would be another festival with “G”
List of Other Festivals : Anant Chaturdashi, Akshay Tritiya ,Buddha Purnima, Basant Panchmi, Baisakhi,  Chhatha, Diwali/Deepawali, Easter, Festival of Breaking Fast - Eid ul Fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Id-ul-Zoha or Bakra-Eid , Janmashtmi , Karva Chauth

For my parallel second Challenge blog with A pls visit : Let the Soul Pour

For other A to Z challenge blogs visit : A to Z Challenge 2016

L is for Lakes in Himachal Pradesh

This post is written as part of A to Z Challenge

L is for Lakes in Himachal Pradesh

Right – Himachal has some lakes on high altitudes which are not only magnificent but sacred too. Here I would talk about some of them.

Parashar Lake is in Mandi sitrict and is 49 km north of main Mandi town. One needs to drive from Drang through Kataula to Parashar. It has a three storied pagoda like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar. The lake is located at a height of 2730 m above sea level. With deep blue waters, the lake is held sacred to the Prashar Muni who is believed to have meditated there. It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and looks down on the fast flowing river Beas. The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth. If you are travelling to this place make sure you reserve the forest guest house in advance from Mandi.

Parashar Lake

Khajjiar is situated 24 km from Dalhausie and is an unexplored hill station. It is also referred to as mini Switzerland. Khajjiar sits on a small plateau with a small stream-fed lake in the middle that has been covered over with weeds. The hill station is surrounded by green meadows and dense forests at a height of 2,000 m above sea level in the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range. It is part of the Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary. Khajjiar can be reached from Dalhousie, the nearest major town and hill station, by bus / car in an hour or so. It has a rare combination of three ecosystem viz lake pasture and forest in one place.

Khajjiar

Bhrigu Lake is named after Rishi Brighu and is considered extremely sacred. Situated in the Kullu district, It lies east of the Rohtang Pass and is about 6 km from the village of Gulaba. People from all over Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul valley frequent this lake a lot despite the fact that its shore lacks any human settlement. The lake is around 3 to 4 m deep and is blanketed by snow throughout the winter season.

Bhrigu Lake

Rewalsar is located at an altitude of 1360m and a distance of 24 km from Mandi town. The Rewalsar Lake is square in shape. The legend behind the lake states that it was formed when at the orders of the king Arshadhara of Zahor, his own daughter and Padmasambhava were punished. The latter was burnt alive in secluded place which for around a week after it continued to be covered by smoke. The king, rather surprised, visited the place himself and found out that a lake had appeared at the place. The king apologised to the saint and married off his daughter to Padamsambhava. From then onward, the lake became a pious place for Buddhist. The Hindus too have their own beliefs that make the lake sacred for them.
The Lake is famous for its floating island which is believed to house the spirit of Padamasambhava. There is also a small zoo located close by the lake. It can be easily reached by road from Mandi in an hour. Rtewalsar Mela is organised every year around this lake.

Rewalsar Lake with Padmanabhan Idol

Dal Lake is on the way from Mc Loed Ganj to Naddi (10 km from Dharamshala) in the district of Kangra. The lake is surrounded by tall Deodars and offers a panoramic view. It is also regarded sacred by the people and has a small Shiva Temple on its bank. Every year in the month of September, the surrounding area of the lake becomes venue for a fair. This fair is attended by a large number of people including Gaddi folk. The lakes get covered with ice during the winter season.

Dal Lake with Deodar at the back

Manimahesh lake is situated at a height of 4080 m in the district of Chamba, around 32 km from Bharmaur. The lake lies at the foothills of the Manimahesh Kailash which is considered an abode of Lord Shiva. As such the lake itself is believed to under the protective aegis of Lord Shiva. People also believe that the lake enjoys the blessings of Goddess Kali as well. A fair is organised here on an annual basis in the month of August or September.

Manimahesh lake

Chandartal Lake At an altitude of 4300 m, the Chandartal Lake is situated at a distance of around 6 km from the Kunzam Pass (the one that joins Lahaul and Spiti). It is believed to be the same place from where Yudhishtra, the eldest of Pandava brothers, embarked on his journey to heavens in his mortal form along with Lord Indra.

Chandratal

The Renuka Lake (672 m) is regarded as the embodiment of Renukaji, the wife of the sage Jamadagini and the mother of Parshurama - one of the ten `Avatars` of Lord Vishnu. Shaped like the profile of a woman, the lake has the circumference of 2.5 km and is the largest in Himachal. This placid stretch of water is fed by underground springs and the surrounding hills are padded by lush forests that support a large variety of plant and animal life. Boating and trekking are the additional attractions of Renukaji, whose natural beauty has to be seen to be believed. Here is a perfect year-around destination that beckons every traveller. It can be reached easily by road from Nahan in Sirmaur district.

Renuka Jheel

Patsio : It is a halting place for caravans 34 km north of Keylong towards different passes and has a small fresh water lake at the top of the mountain. 

Patsio

There are many other lakes in HP both natural and manmade. But the above ones have something different so a must visit if you are on these routes.

That's all for today. Tomorrow it would be M

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge