14 January 2002, 12:31am IST
R L Pathak.
Like makara sankaranti, lohri is essentially a festival dedicated to the sun god. it is not clear how lohri assumed the nomenclature it now has. as the sun moves towards the uttarayan, the new configuration lends a touch of warmth to mother earth. the seeds that lay dormant thus far for want of heat, now sprout forth with the help of the sun’s heat. in religious annals the sun god enjoys a uniquely high rank for this reason and is worshipped with great devotion, especially because the sun’s energy helps generate and re-generate life- nurturing produce. makara sankaranti is therefore a celebration of plenty, propitiating the sun god. this festival has strong regional flavours and is observed throughout india, and is most well-known as lohri in punjab, pongal in tamil nadu, samkranti in bengal, magha bihu in assam and tai pongal in kerala. it is believed that by worshipping the sun, the energy-giver, humankind will be blessed and will enjoy peace and prosperity. in tamil nadu, pongal celebrations are spread over three days — bhogi on the first day is followed by pongal on makara sankaranti when rice and lentils are cooked with ghee, jaggery and sugar, with the pot being allowed to boil over, signifying plenty and prosperity. new clothes are worn and prayers are offered to lord surya. the pongal celebrations culminate on the third day, maatu pongal, when cows are revered and worshipped, after bathing them with turmeric paste. lohri being central to punjab, the festival seems to have acquired its name from loh, a thick iron sheet (tawa) used for baking chapatis for the community langar (meals). loh too signifies the supply of heat with which to bake and cook. another mythical reference says that because the rays of the sun shower benedictions, water is offered to the sun as a part of the daily puja ritual at the time of sunrise. the significance of lohri in punjab has its origins in another legend. it is believed that during makara sankaranti punjab heralds the new year, and propitiating the sun god gives an auspicious start to the new year. yet another clue comes from the mahabharata: bheesham pitamah preferred to put up with the extreme physical discomfort and pain of lying on a cot of thorns in order to wait for the auspicious moment — when the sun moved to the uttarayan — in order to secure his entry into swargalok or heaven. pieced together, all these accounts and references point to the significance of saluting the sun. the sun is a symbol of plenty; it give us all we need. heat and fire are again inextricably linked and this comes out clearly in our scriptures. fire sanctifies our endeavour for a good life on the one hand and destroys evil spirits on the other. the religious importance of havans (sacrificial fires) along with chanting of mantras is well-established. ghee is poured into the fire to keep it going, and the havan generates a feeling of goodwill and well-being. lohri bonfires are deemed to be a replica of the sun. lohri revellers circle the bonfire, presenting a rare and joyous spectacle, tinged with religious significance. the festival is linked to the atmospheric physical changes. lohri celebrations generate a lot of bonhomie — people sit around the bonfire, talking, laughing, exchanging pleasantries, praying for prosperity, even as they make offerings of til (gingelly), moongphali (peanuts) and chirwa (beaten rice) to the burning embers. lohri is also viewed as the beginning of a new year. according to legend, a good lohri sets the tone for the whole year ahead — the more joyous and bountiful the occasion, the greater will be the love, peace and prosperity. some people believe that holika and lohri were sisters. while the former vanished into the holika fire, lohri survived and lives on. the religious flavour to the sun festival instils in people hope and cheer and believers draw inspiration from bheesham pitamah’s example — who chose to wait much longer in pain for assured salvation. the rituals, celebrations, prayers, community get-togethers and feasting associated with makara sankaranti and lohri are only symbolic of a common thanks-giving to nature as represented by the sun god, and in the process, the festivities embody a spirit of brotherhood, unity and gratitude, with family reunions and merrymaking generating a lot of happiness, goodwill and cheer.
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