Hamilton: Lohri, a vibrant and traditional festival, was celebrated with great enthusiasm by residents of the Hamilton community on January 13, 2024. The day marks the end of winter, a
farewell to chilly winter and the onset of warmer, longer days.
The residents lit the bonfire, offering jaggery, peanuts, sesame seeds to the fire God as part of the festivities and after taking parikrama around the bonfire exchanged sweets, peanuts, rewari, popcorn, gajak, gur as prasad. The beautiful tradition of worshipping Sun God and Fire God, seeking blessings from mother nature for a prosperous and healthy year ahead.
The cold weather and low temperature didn’t act as a deterrent for the residents; they turned up to pay their obeisance and celebrate the auspicious occasion. An atmosphere of joy and happiness was to be seen, with residents sharing joyous moments with each other, dancing and singing to the tune of Punjabi beats and Bollywood numbers. The function was followed by a well-planned dinner menu.
These festivals hold a special place as they inculcate communal bonding, fostering a sense of unity, love, and brotherhood among the residents.
Ridgewood: Lohri, the North Indian festival, was celebrated in Ridgewood on January 13, 2024. In spite of the biting cold, residents came forward to celebrate and show their belief in this popular winter festival. The bonfire was symbolic of being small so that the resulting smoke causing pollution was minimal. Ridgewood has been environmentally considerate and sensitive in all their activities. This gesture was appreciated by all. To add to the gaiety, food stalls were in attendance, serving hot snacks and tea or coffee, which added to the warmth of the occasion. Rewari, moongphali, and popcorn in packets were distributed to all. The cultural committee of Ridgewood has been doing a commendable job, much to the delight and appreciation of all.
Regency Park 2: With the turn of the year, we all start looking forward to the restart of fun at all the festivals. Residents of RP2 never fail to add much-needed energy, music, and dance to the tradition of the festival. It was the same this year with the Lohri celebrations. While the young shook a leg to the foot-tapping music, the senior citizens added to the charm of the festival by participating with full enthusiasm.
The festival is a great opportunity to bring together all the residents and enjoy traditional snacks and sweets. Cold wave conditions could not dampen the energy levels, and a large number of residents joined in the fun. Moongphali, rewari, and popcorn—the traditional snacks and sweets—were served by the RWA, along with hot cups of tea.
Interesting fact: Lohri is celebrated one day before Makar Sankranti, and its date is determined as per the Hindu Solar Calendar. The date of Lohri changes every 70 years. In the late 19th century, Lohri used to fall on January 11. In the mid-20th century, the festival used to be celebrated on January 12th or 13th. In the 21st century, Lohri generally falls on the 13th or 14th of January. Although traditionally Lohri marks the end of winter and is a traditional welcome to longer days and the sun’s journey to the Northern Hemisphere, this year the cold wave continued much beyond Lohri.
