Traditional verve marks Lohri

Festive spirit

Delhiites welcomed the harvest season with fervour and gaiety 

Amidst the chilling weather, the long-awaited bonfire festival, Lohri was celebrated with much fun, frolic, folk songs, bonfire, sweets and dance at the India Habitat Centre recently.

The traditional spirit of Lohri was celebrated in Sufi style with Sufi scholar Madan Gopal Singh performing along with his ensemble Chaar Yaar. The group also comprised Deepak Castelino (guitar and banjo), Shyam Nepali (Nepali sarangi), Pritam Ghosal (sarod) and Gurmeet Singh (multiple percussions). Along with him, Desraj Lacchkani, another Punjabi folk singer of Coke Studio fame sang few beautiful Sufi songs and mesmerised the crowd.

With the setting of the sun, this cultural destination turned out to be a visual treat for everyone as a huge bonfire was placed amidst the beating of the drums and enthralling performances by artistes spanning across traditional and contemporary genres.

People swayed to the beats of Sundar Mundriye Hoye, danced around the bonfire with Dama Dum Mast Kalandar, nibbled on that rewari and popcorn with Saanu Ek Pal Chain Na Aave, huddledcloser to the fire with Ghoomm Charakhda and more.

But no celebration is complete without good food as it is an inseparable part of the Lohri celebrations. So, a sumptuous buffet was specially created for the occasion which had some lip-smacking dishes like Paneer Chholiya, Amritsari Aloo Wadi, Makhni Subzian, Sarson Da Saag, Mah Chholian Di Dal, Keema Chakundari, Dhabe Ka Kukkad, Amritsari Kulcha, Chhoti Praunthi, Makki Di Roti, Amritsari Machhi, Ganne Di Kheer, Rabdi and much more. The menu was purposely kept authentic Punjabi.

Lohri which almost coincides with the festivals of Pongal, Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan brings in an opportunity for people in the community to take a break from their busy schedules and get together to share each other’s company.