Here’s How Lohri is Actually a Desi Halloween

The international Halloween festival has a ‘desi’ cousin, our ‘Funjabi’ Lohri. How are they related? Find out.

Lohri and Halloween – same, same but different?

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Lohri is here. This Indian festival officially marks the harvest season for Punjab and unofficially marks the spring season, for the rest of India.

The festival is traditionally associated with bonfire, songs and gajak.

Though it’s a completely desi festival, we couldn’t help ourselves from creating a parallel with the videsi festival Halloween. Yes, we think that Lohri and Halloween hold quite a lot in common. Why? Read on.

Trick or Treat?

Children go door to door asking the residents for food items. They carry out a mischief if the residents aren’t generous. Sounds like Halloween? Yes, but that’s Lohri too. Children go door to door asking for Lohri items for the evening bonfire.

Nuts etc.

The Lohri items are generally nuts which include gajak, peanuts, groundnuts. These are offered to the Lohri bonfire in the evening. The food items bear a striking resemblance to the Halloween nuts. Yes, we are going nuts over this similarity too!

What For?

Lohri and Halloween are both dedicated to the celebration of historical legends. Lohri celebrates Dulla Bhatti, who robbed the rich and distributed it to the poor, and also arranged marriages of poor Punjabi girls. The Halloween is a tribute to the Biblical and Pagan figures, and hence, people wear such costumes.

Dressing Fancy

Costumes are full of bling and colours. Dressing up in bright oranges, yellows and greens, the festival is a full-on neon night. No, not Halloween. We are talking about Lohri.

Songs

No celebration is complete without a celebratory song. With a touch of melody and different renditions, both Lohri and Halloween get on the evening with some foot-tapping music.

Halloween

Lohri

If we’ve managed to convince you about the similarities between the two festivals, here’s wishing you a refurbished Halloween and a fresh and happy Lohri.

Have any similarity we might’ve missed? Don’t forget to send us your comments and wishes below.