There are various reasons for Lohri celebration. In which some reasons are as follows:
By Pt.Awadesh Tewari
- A myth derived from Ramayana, states that Holi and Lohri were sisters. To save to the Prahalad; Holi sat down in the fire on the day of Lohri (i.e. 13 January as per current Gregorian calendar) and Prahalad was rescued by the Lohri. Ultimately, Holi died on the day of Holika Dahan. Therefore ‘Lohri’ festival is the Thanks to the younger sister Lohri in regard to save to the Prahalad.
- The chieftain is believed to have rescued two Brahmin girls, Sundri and Mundri, from Akbar, who wanted them in his harem. Dulla Bhatti became their godfather and is believed to have married them off on Lohri with much pomp and festivity, directly challenging the authority of the emperor. A popular song sung on Lohri goes:
“Sundri Mundriye hoe
Who will save you poor one
Dulla Bhatti is here for you
The Dulla married off his daughter.”
In pre-Partition Punjab, Dulla Bhatti emerged as the ultimate symbol of the composite Punjabi culture – a Muslim landlord who fought for the honour of Brahmin girls, saving them from the Mughal emperor. Songs of his bravery were sung by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims alike on Lohri.
- According to the Vikrami calendar, Lohri falls in the month of Paushe. around 13 January, as per the Gregorian calendar. It is, actually, celebrated a day before Makara Sankranti. The sun usually enters the Narayana Makara Rashi (Capricorn) on January 14 (99% of the time). However, there are times when the sun could enter the zodiac a day before or a day after January 14. Regardless, Lohri is still celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti. Makara Sankranti marks beginning of the solar Magh masa, and Lohri must be celebrated on the last day of the solar Dhanur masa, which also marks the exit of the sun from Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius).
Inhabitants of the undivided Punjab were the Arya, and Vedas were written by them on the soil of Punjab. So they did worship to the fire God -Sun on the day before the Makar Sankranti (on Lohri) that means welcome of Sun God at the door steps.
4-According to the Gregorian calendar, Sun starts move from the 23.5 degree south Latitude to the north direction and English people celebrate big day on 25th December. However, Hindus believe that Sun starts move from south to north on day of Lohri (day before Makar Sankranti); therefore they do welcome of Sun God on day of Lohri.
5-Now, we should think that why it is called ‘Lohri’?
In this regards, I get two concepts which are as follows:
- A mythological legend, based on oral traditions, states that Lahore (now in Pakistan) was known as Lavapuri after Lava, son of the Hindu god Rama, who supposedly founded the city. To this day, the Lahore Fort has a vacant temple dedicated to Lava (also pronounced Loh, hence “Loh-awar” or The Fort of Loh).
- All of us know that that there is a Loh Stambh in Delhi near Qutub Minar. We get written in Sanskrit language on the Loh Stambh as:
प्राप्तेन स्व भुजार्जितां च सुचिरां च ऐकाधिराज्यं क्षितौ चन्द्राह्वेन समग्र चन्द्र सदृशीम् वक्त्र–श्रियं बिभ्रातातेनायं प्रनिधाय भूमिपतिना भावेव विष्नो (ष्नौ) मतिं प्राणशुर्विष्णुपदे गिरौ भगवतो विष्णौर्धिध्वजः स्थापितः
Its translation in English is as follows:
(By him, the king, attained sole supreme sovereignty in the world, acquired by his own arm and (enjoyed) for a very long time; (and) who, having the name of Chandra, carried a beauty of countenance like (the beauty of) the full-moon,-having in faith fixed his mind upon (the god) Vishnu, this lofty standard of the divine Vishnu was set up on the hill (called) Vishnupada.)
Word ‘Loh’ in above both places (Loh Fort & Loh Stambh) represents to the Lava (son of God Rama). King ‘Chandra’ might be represents to Lord Rama because he only attained sole supreme sovereignty in the world in the written history. This was confirmed by the ShreeTulsidasin in Shree Ramcharit Manas.
‘Sapt dweep savit mekhla, ek bhup raghupati kausala’ means: earth contains seven …………continents and Lord Ram was the only king of the earth.
So it may be said that public of Lavapuri did welcome of Lava (Loh) (as a representative of Sun God) on the day before sankranti because Lord Sun was his great grand ancestor; and that welcome is known as Lohri festival.
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