CHICAGO: Unprecedented crowds thronged the Hari Om Mandir in Medinah on January 13 to celebrate the vibrant festival of Lohri that has always been celebrated at the Mandir in the traditional North Indian Style, with favorite foods, songs and customs of Punjab. This year too, despite the very cold and frigid temperatures, over 1000 devotees came for the festivities
The Temple Management had made adequate arrangements to serve the special meal of the season – Makki Ki Roti, Saag, Lassi and Gur Wale Chawal. Along with this, the traditional items like Bhugga, Popcorn, Rewari, Moongphali, Khajoor and Chirvara were distributed as Prasad.
Another attraction was a beautiful village of Punjab, (Pind in Punjabi), set up to depict the true culture and ambience of this festival. Colorful Phulkaris adorned the walls, while idols of young girls in typical Punjabi suits and boys in colorful turbans were displayed to showcase the village scene. A Charkha, a Chakki, a Dahi Matki, a well, a hand cart full of peanuts, rickshaws, a cart laden with the harvest crop, Manjis, Pirhis, some of the commonly seen items in the streets of a Punjab Village, were all displayed here. Men with dhols and women in their Giddha spirit also shown on these streets, completed the visual.
After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, people gathered in the congregation hall to sing and dance on this auspicious occasion. A group of ladies carrying colorful earthen pots on their heads, popularly called “Jaggo”, danced to Punjabi folk songs and in no time the entire hall was seen clapping and dancing, and charged with energy.
Last but not the least, the Lohri Bonfire was lighted and people gathered around to offer the Prasad items to the Holy God of Fire. As the “Sunder Mundriye” Lohri song echoed to the beat of the Dhol, everybody – young and old – was seen dancing and enjoying.
Suresh Bodiwala
