MEDINAH: This year also the festival of Lohri was celebrated with great fanfare at Hari Om Mandir in Medinah on Tuesday, January 13 with house full attendance in spite of cold winter weather.
Lohri is one of the most celebrated harvest festivals in Punjab. It is the time for people to thank God for his kindness and for a plentiful harvest in the coming season. It is time for community celebration.
The devotees celebrated with traditional food of Sarson ka Saag (mustard) and Makki (corn) ki roti and lassi (buttermilk), bonfire, tappes, and songs suitable for the occasion. Lohri is distinguished for honoring the day of harvesting crop. The time was considered auspicious and special to the farmer as it rewarded him of his toil all the year round.
A week before Lohri preparations started which included decorating the Mandir. A nicely decorated Punjabi Beda (Village) gave the feeling of being in a Punjabi pind. It was decorated with Chullah, Charkha (spinning wheel), fresh vegetables, sugarcanes and many small decorative items creating a Punjabi village atmosphere.
The celebration was not limited to lighting a bonfire but there were traditional dances; Ladies group led by Anshu Paul did Jago and Gidda (Punjabi folk dance), traditionally dressed ladies danced through the hall carrying a Gaggar (pot) decorated with lighted candles and singing jaago song. Special tappaas or to be specific, Punjabi verses were sung by the ladies to mark the day.
Dhol player Ajay Ghai was on all the times. Prayers were done for families with newly weds, the new born babies and everyone by priest Pandit Dinesh Kumar.
Ayodhia Salwan (Trustee Chairman), and President Indrajit Sarkar greeted everyone and also thanked everyone for their generous donation.
Special thanks to India House, Star Foods and various devotees for arranging Sarson ka Saag, Makki ki Roti, Kheer etc. under the guidance of Ms Usha Verma. Devotees relished popcorns, gajar, revari, bhugga and peanuts as prasad.
Asian Media USA
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