The festival of Lohri was celebrated with pomp and show across the length and breadth of the country yesterday. I'm sure that many of you might not be aware of the interesting story behind it, so let's take a peek.
There is a large tract of semi-arid terrain lying between the rivers Chenab and Ravi called the Saandal Bar (It now falls in the districts of Sheikhpura and Faislabad). The people of this area were known to provide the stiffest opposition to the Muslim marauders. They never paid any taxes; rather they openly defied the authorities and indulged in looting the royal caravans and treasures. 'Saandal', a warlord of Bhatti Rajput clan led these tribals.
Prince Jahangir, the heir apparent, fired with zeal to prove his prowess carried out campaigns to consolidate the Mughal authority in the region. He captured and executed Saandal and his son, Farid. Their skins were peeled off and hung at the Delhi gate of the Fort of Lahore to instill a sense of fear among the rebels.
However, the son of Farid, Abdullah or Dullah as he was fondly called, remain unfazed and continued with his defiant activities. Dullah earned notoriety in the eyes of the authorities. He, like Robin Hood, looted wealthy landlords and Imperial officers and distributed the booty among the poor. He came to be regarded as a father figure for the distressed and the oppressed and became a living embodiment of the chivalrous and secular, socio-cultural character of the region.
Dullah was the contemporary of yet another Super Human, Poet Divine, Guru Arjan Dev ji, the fifth Sikh Guru who sacrificed his life at the altar of humanity at Lahore.
It is believed that Dullah had restored the prestige of an innocent girl whose modesty was outraged by a Mughal General. Dullah had adopted this girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage in the Jungles of 'Sandaal Bar'. As there was no priest nearby to chant the Vedic Hymns and solemnise the marriage, Dullah lit a bonfire and composed an impromptu : Sundari Mundariye......The bride and the groom were asked to take 'pheras' of the bonfire as Dullah sang this hilarious song.
The 'hos' are in chorus. And I shall first give the Punjabi version followed by its English translation.
Sunder mundriye ho * Tera kaun vicaharaa ho? * Dullah Bhatti walla ho! * Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho! * Ser shakkar payee ho! * Kudi da saalu paatta ho! * Saalu kaun samete ho? * Chacha gaali dese ho! * Chacha choori kutti ho! * Zamidara lutti ho! * Zamindaar sudhaye ho! *Ginn-ginn bhole aaye ho! * Ek bhola reh gaya! * Sipahee pakad ke lai gaya! * Sipahee mari itt! * Phannve ro te phannve pit! * Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi!
Oh, you pretty lass * Who is your protector, you pitiable one? * There's this man called Dullah from village Bhatti! * Dullah's getting her married as his own daughter! * He gave 1 kg sugar! * The girl is wearing a red suit! * But her shawl is torn! * Who will stitch her shaw? * Her uncle will scold her! * The uncle made choori - a Punjabi dish! * The landlords ate it! * Dullah gave the landlords lots more to eat! * Lots of innocent guys came! * One innocent boy got left behind! * The police arrested him! * The policeman hit him with a brick! * Now, you may cry or howl! * Give us our Lohri and may you live long as a couple!
Til (Sesame seeds) and Rorhi (a form of sweet jaggery) are meant to keep the body warm. These two terms Til + Rorhi combined to form Tilrorhi which was eventually corrupted to......Lohri.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 9. After breakfast, we got into our Sunday best and by a quarter to 11, Abhilash, our sa'arthi had come by and we left for our maid, Suma's house soon after.
After a short wait for the couple to return from the temple, we wished Abhirami - Suma's daughter and Dhinu a very long and happy married life, posed for a few photographs with the couple while Lekha gifted her a pair of studs. It was a quick lunch thereafter and after seeing Suma's cute home, we returned to The Quarterdeck. Met as many of her relatives as was possible during the short period.
It was a nice function!
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