On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Punjabi Cultural Community Association of Victoria will once again host a family dinner event to celebrate Lohri.
For the uninitiated folks living in Western society, Lohri may not have a particular meaning. But for the tens of millions of people in northern India, it is a time of celebration that, among other things, marks the end of winter and the welcoming of longer days.
But Lohri is more than just a seasonal festival. It’s a celebration of life, the harvest, and community generosity and spirit.
In Victoria the celebratory dinner is a chance for newcomers from India and across Canada to build networks and get acquainted with the community. It’s also a chance to meet and share with members of other ethnic communities.
“We do four or five events every year and these events are not just for Punjabi people,” said Parminder Virk, one of the organizers of events for the Punjabi Cultural Community Association. “We welcome everyone to our Lohri festival and make a point of celebrating with a sense of diversity. We’ve had performances by the Mexican community, the Philippines, Chinese… It’s a celebration for everyone and we make everyone feel welcome.”
The Lohri celebration is marked by great food, dance, music and song and it’s all done with an altruistic undercurrent. Last year, for example, the event raised $2,100 for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
That altruism, by the way, is part of the Lohri tradition which, in part, celebrates an Indian version of Robin Hood named Dulla Bhatti, who is said to have lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. He was a highway robber who took from the rich, rescued Hindu girls from slavery, and then used the money to provide them with dowries for their marriages to Hindu men (according to the customs of the time).
“The goal of our festival is to maintain our traditions, our language and to keep our culture alive for the next generations,” said Virk. “We sing traditional Lohri songs and have these great bonfires.”
Of course, there’s a lot more that could be said about Lohri, from the songs, the bonfires, the desserts, and the celebration of newlyweds and new parents, but the spirit of the celebration is perhaps summed up in this traditional toast: “May your life get as bright as the fires of Lohri and may you prosper and grow with each passing day. Let the glory of Lohri fill your life with warmth and happiness.”
The Lohri dinner and dance will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, call Parminder Virk at 250-889-7411 or visit Island Video at 3388 Douglas St.
