Bonfires & Bhangra: Lohri festmakes Bhopalis go balle balle

Bhopal: Bhopal sizzled with the warmth, music and irresistible joy that only Lohri can spark on Tuesday night! As several homes and neighbourhoods filled with laughter, the bonfire flames climbed high — beckoning families, friends and youngsters alike to throw popcorn and jaggery into the fire and dance away the winter chill. For Punjabis, Lohri isn't just about heat on a cold night — it's about hope, renewal and gratitude as people bid goodbye to the longest part of winter and welcome longer, sun-kissed days ahead. Festive spirit was palpable in the city on Tuesday. Colourful phulkaris, shimmering suits and cozy shawls brushed shoulders as revellers moved to the dhol's beats — lovers of tradition and newcomers alike swaying in sync. Hostesses and even restaurants served comfort classics like makke di roti and sarson da saag, while sweet aroma of jaggery treats and popcorn drifted through the air, drawing everyone closer to theirroots. "This Lohri is extra special — it's my grandson's first!" laughed Dipti Ajwani at her Lohri party organised at a city hotel, her eyes twinkling brighter than the bonfire's sparks. "Watching him gaze at the flames and take in the dhol beats — how can you not feel blessed?" Young and vibrant Riya Mehta spun around in her dazzling ethnic sharara between rounds of gidda at her Hoshangabad Road home, grinning ear to ear as she sang 'Dula Bhatti Wala Ho'. "I live for this night — the dance, the fire, the outfits! I've gone all out with colours and mirrors — it just feels right for Lohri," she confessed. Riya's mother and hostess Neelam was in her element too, ladling steaming ganne ki kheer into bowls while beaming: "Serving these festive favourites to happy faces — that's my Lohri joy. Nothing beats watching someone's eyes light up at the first bite!" From flamboyant outfits to food that soothes your soul, Bhopal's Lohri was a whirlwind of chatter, music and pure joie de vivre — a celebration of roots, renewal and belonging under the stars.