{M:H:O} !! Happy Lohri !! ( Tuhanu Lohri di Lakh Lakh Vadhai )

Earth this Beautiful World Sailing Around the World Creepy Little Baby Colours 3 Harvest Festival of Punjab Lohri is the harvest festival of Punjab, famously known as the the breadbasket state of India. Thus, people residing in Punjab attach a great significance to Lohri, the festival in feasts and foods. This harvest festival is celebrated to mark both celebration and sharing. Lohri festival prompts people to be thankful for God's provision and to celebrate his creation, its focus on farming. In Punjab, wheat is the main winter crop, which is sown in October and harvested in March or April. In January, the fields come up with the promise of a golden harvest, and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops. For Punjabis, this is more than just a festival, it is also an example of a way of life. Celebrating The Harvest Festival Lohri is a festival of zeal and verve and marks the culmination of the chilly winter. In true spirit of the Punjabi culture, men and women perform Bhangra and Giddha, popular Punjabi folk dances, around a bonfire. Enthusiastic children go from house to house singing songs and people oblige them generously by giving them money and eatables as offering for the festival. Logs of wood are piled together for a bonfire, and friends and relatives gather around it. They go around the fire three times, giving offerings of popcorns, peanuts, rayveri and sweets. Then, to the beat of the dhol (traditional Indian drum), people dance around the fire. Prasad of til, peanuts, rayveri, puffed rice, popcorn, gajak and sweets is distributed. This symbolizes a prayer to Agni for abundant crops and prosperity. Lohri is also an auspicious occasion to celebrate a newly born baby's or a new bride's arrival in the family. The day ends with a traditional feast of sarson da saag and makki di roti and a dessert of rau di kheer (a dessert made of sugarcane juice and rice). The purpose of the Lohri harvest ceremony is to thank the God for his care and protection. During this festival the people prepare large quantities of food and drink, and make merry throughout the day and night. Therefore everyone looked forward to this day. Thus the jubilation at a bountiful harvest becomes the reason for the celebration of Lohri. It is one of the most popular harvest festivals of Punjab, with fairs held at various places. Dancing men and women, sing and dance around the bonfire and people come out of their houses to greet one and all. Lohri is on 13th January, 2010, Wednesday Festival of Lohri is celebrated on January 13 every year. Date of the festival depends on solar calendar hence it remains the same always. Lohri date is auspicious and significant for Hindus. On January 13 every year sun begins its Uttarayan journey (northward journey) and takes entry in to Makar Rashi or Tropic of Capricorn. The period of Uttarayan (January 14 to July 14) is considered propitious by Hindus. According to Bhagwat Gita, Lord Krishna manifests himself in his full magnificence during this time. Lohri marks the coldest day in northern India. The earth is farthest away from the sun at this time and begins its journey towards the sun on Lohri. Hence bonfire Festival of Lohri marks the end of cold month of Paush and beginning of Magh or the arrival of spring. This shift in season gives people all the more reason to celebrate. Lohri also marks the last day of the month of Maargazhi, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Festival of Lohri is succeeded by Makar Sankranthi - a popular festival in central India. The auspicious day of Makar Sankranti (January 14) is celebrated as Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Pongal in South India and Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh. Lohri Dances Dances are one of the most fun loving aspect of Lohri celebration. Punjab is a land of exciting culture, myriad images of swaying emerald green fields and hearty people whose robust rustic dances that reflects unique camaraderie and bonhomie. Lohri dances are very much a part of the heritage of Punjab. Punjabi dance form is unique in sense that there is altogether different dance forms for male and female. While the male dances are the Bhangra, jhoomer, luddi, julli and dankara. the female one's are Giddha and Kikli. Bhangra and Giddha are the most popular form of dances performed by man and women on Lohri. Earth this Beautiful World Sailing Around the World Creepy Little Baby Colours 3 A Group By

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