Mumbai celebrates Lohri with traditional gaiety

Societies and area that have dense Punjabi population celebrated Lohri in its traditional on Saturday evening. They lit a bonfire and danced around it.  

A festival observed largely up north for the harvest season, Lohri is popular among Punjabis here. While some arrange parties, some others make delicacies at home.

“First we go to the Gurudwara to seek blessings. Most people celebrate Lohri by lighting a bonfire. We take rounds of the bonfire and throw popcorns or sewia in it. Some people also play the dhol,” said Mandeep Singh, resident of Khar. In the Gurudwara, rice and rajma is distributed among devotees.

At a Lohri celebration in Andheri, residents JB Nagar tried to make it a bigger. “We have set up four stalls that will provide for kulfi, jalebi, coffee among other things. Since a person from our society has won Rs5 crore in KBC, we will also put up a large screen today that will air her episode,” said Amrjeet Singh, resident of JB Nagar. 

Meanwhile, the Assamese in the city are getting ready for Magh Bihu celebrations. “Bhogali Bihu Uruka (eve of the Bihu) celebration will be on Sunday. Pockets where Assamese population is high will organise the traditional feast that will mostly have non-vegetarian food. There will be various preparations of fish, chicken, mutton as well as other delicacies. That will be followed by a bonfire early on Monday morning where we will offer prayers to the god,” said Dipen Rajkonwar, general secretary of Assam Association, Mumbai.