Punjabi community celebrates Lohri with dhol beats & ‘gidda’

Lucknow: Dressed in traditional attires, people of Punjabi community celebrated Lohri with ‘dhol', ‘giddha' and music on Monday. Besides being a harvest festival, Lohri holds special relevance for newlyweds and families with newborn babies.Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Charbagh, who threw a Lohri party to celebrate the birth of his one-month-old son Zorawar Singh, said: "We lit a bonfire and invited friends for party. Elders gave blessings to my son." Hasmeet Singh of Alambagh, who organized Lohri celebration on Tuesday for his newborn son Aveer Singh, said: "We have created a village themed ‘pandal' by decorating it with straws, mud pots and lanterns." A newly married couple Jasmeet Singh and Gursimran Kaur celebrated their first Lohri. "I gifted a gold bracelet to my wife, and relished ‘chhola bhatura', ‘gud patti' and popcorn," Jasmeet said.Another couple, Jaskiran Kaur and Harmanpreet Singh, said, "We danced and relished delicious dishes." At Naka, Dashmesh Seva Society lit a bonfire and celebrated Lohri in which families from Naka and adjoining areas visited. Tajinder Singh, who manages the Society, said: "Lohri is our social festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all with zest and zeal." Lucknow Gurdwara managing committee president Rajendra Singh Bagga, general secretary Harpal Singh Jaggi and Rajendra Singh Dua, president of the UP Sikh delegation, lit fire to start Lohri festivities.