Bhubaneswar: The Punjabi community in Bhubaneswar came alive with vibrant celebrations of Lohri, the traditional harvest festival, on January 14, marking a joyful gathering that blended cultural rituals with community spirit.
More than 400 members of the Punjabi community, joined by representatives from the Veterans Club and other prominent local citizens, assembled at Punjab Bhavan for an evening filled with festivity and warmth.
The event commenced with the formal Lohri Poojan, a ceremonial worship, followed by the lighting of the sacred bonfire—a central element of the festival. Participants encircled the crackling flames, tossing handfuls of traditional offerings such as popcorn, sugar candies (rewri or gajak), sesame seeds, jaggery (gur), and other seasonal treats into the fire, in keeping with age-old customs.
The atmosphere reson
ated with the rhythmic beats of the dhol, energetic Bhangra performances, and soulful folk songs, creating an immersive experience that captured the true essence of Lohri: a celebration of abundance, renewal, and shared joy that extends an open invitation to all.
The bonfire served as more than a source of light and heat on the winter evening—it symbolized the purification of the heart, the burning away of negativity, and the illumination of community bonds, warming both the night sky and the spirits of everyone present.
Lohri, widely observed by Sikhs and Hindus across northern India, is one of the earliest major festivals in the Hindu calendar year. It heralds the end of winter, the arrival of longer days, and gratitude for the harvest, infusing homes and hearts with prosperity, laughter and a sense of togetherness.
President of the Punjabi Arya Sanatan Biradari Renu Hans expressed hope that the festive spirit of Lohri would fill every home with joy and prosperity, ushering in a year brimming with fresh opportunities and success. Sanjiv Hans, Secretary of the Biradari, extended warm wishes to all attendees, noting that the sacred Lohri fire purifies the soul and draws people closer, strengthening ties of brotherhood and togetherness.