Lohri, celebrated in January, marks the winter solstice, the end of winter, and the start of longer days as the sun shifts northward. It also signifies the end of the winter harvest, with crops like sugarcane being collected, and is seen by some Punjabi farmers as the start of the financial year.
The festival celebrates light, symbolized by bonfires that represent the sun's return, the triumph of light over darkness, and warmth over cold. Popular delicacies include sarson ka saag and makkai ki roti.
Celebrated on the last day of Poh, Lohri features folk songs, dances, and sweets distributed among children. Songs praising Dullah Bhatti, a Punjabi folk hero, are a key part of the festivities.
Dullah, whose full name is Rao Abdullah Bhatti, belonged to the Bhatti clan, a Rajput dynasty of Saumavanshi lineage. The head of the clan, the Maharawal of Jaisalmer, is considered the heir of the Hindu deified hero Krishna. While Jaisalmer is now in Rajasthan, India, the Bhattis have deep historical ties with Sindh and Multan.
Dullah’s father, Farid, and grandfather were sentenced to death by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Muslim Rajput rulers of Punjab, had led a revolt against the Emperor, and the Imperial Mughal military decisively defeated their forces in battle.
His mother, heavily pregnant at the time, was imprisoned in Lahore Fort. Two months later, Dullah was born within the cold, unforgiving walls of the fort.
Although unforgiving towards rebels, Akbar respected their bravery as rivals. An imperial decree was issued that Dullah's mother, a courageous woman, would also nurse Prince Salim. This move likely aimed to prevent future rebellions by bringing the family under royal patronage.
As Dullah grew, his mother became his guiding force, instilling in him the memory of his father and grandfather’s sacrifice. “You must avenge their deaths,” she often told him.
Dullah grew into a fierce and fearless man, determined to challenge the Mughal authority that had destroyed his family. He turned to guerrilla warfare, targeting Mughal caravans and officials. The wealth he seized was distributed among the needy villagers of Pindi Bhattian, who hailed him as their hero.
Dullah also rescued Sundri and Mundri, two Brahman Hindu girls who were to be taken as concubines by a wealthy, aged landlord. Outraged at the dishonour, he declared himself their adoptive father and arranged respectable marriages for both.
The weddings were celebrated on the day of Lohri, marking a new beginning for the girls and a symbolic victory for justice. Since then, Dullah has been celebrated with Lohri every year.
Comments