Lohri, celebrated mainly in Punjab is a harvest festival like Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and the Sankranti in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated on the 13th of January during the month of Paush or Magh, a day before Makar Sankranti.

Geographically speaking, the earth leans towards the sun along the Tropic of Capricorn (Makara rekha) from the day following Lohri which is also known as the Winter Solstice. The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time starts its journey towards the sun along its elliptical orbit and thus, heralds the onset of spring. It is this transition which is celebrated as Lohri in Northern India, Makara Sankranti in the central part of the country and as Pongal Sankranti in South India where it is spread over three days. A Rath Yatra is taken out from the Kandaswamy temple in Chennai on the day of Pongal.

This festival is connected with the solar year as it marks the departure of the winter season. It is reflective of the life-style and the colours of life of the people belonging to the land of five rivers. The festival is an excuse for merry-making after the completion of the harvest.

A bonfire is lit and everyone gathers around it. Indian sweets like gachak, bhuga, gur and rewri and also peanuts are collected from each house and are thrown into the fire. The festival assumes greater significance if there has been a happy event in the family during the elapsed year, like the birth of a child or a marriage. Children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich and helped the poor. These visitors are given either money or the Indian sweets in large amounts.

The family then plays host to relations and friends wherein the eats take a back seat and revelry takes over. It is then time for bhangra and gidda. Liquor flows freely and guests are served dinner. But then liquor is a modern introduction. One of the famous songs which are sung is:

Sunder mundriya..ho/ Tera kaun vichara..ho/ Dulla Bhatti walla..ho/ Dulle ne ti viahiyi..ho/ Saer Shakar payi..ho/ Kudi de boje payee..ho/ Shallu kaun samete..ho/ Chacha galee dese..ho/ Chache choori kutee..ho/ Zamindaran lutee..ho/ Zamindara sidaye..ho/ Gin-gin pole layee..ho/ Ik pola reh gaya..ho/ Sipahi farh ke lei gaya..ho/ Aakho mundao taana../ Mukai da dana./. Aana lei ke jana.

Call it Lohri, Pongal or Sankranti, the festival conveys the same message -- the bond of brotherhood and the spirit of oneness which ought to prevail despite all odds !