Ever heard of Punjabi bonfire party. Well, not exactly party, it is a festival. The festival is Lodi. This festival is celebrated on every 14th January. As in South we celebrate the outcome of new crops, in the same way Punjabis also celebrate Lodi. Though the manner in which it is celebrated is different.

The morning of the festival is the usual one with people preparing for the evening pooja. Lodi is one of the biggest festivals of Punjabis. All the people of the community all decked up gather in the evening. A majestic bonfire is burnt in the center of the ground where the pooja is done. The pooja starts with burning the bonfire and putting til, corn and rice flakes in the fire. The til is thrown into the fire to ward of sins done by the people. Each and every individual puts a mixture of til, corn and rice places in the fire. On this very day, it is believed that all our sins are burnt with the fire and a new direction is given to the lives of the people.

After the pooja, traditional Punjabi songs are sung and danced to. Various kinds of Punjabi dances are done on this day. It is a kind of family gathering where in, youngsters dance and enjoy the evening and the elders chat and crack jokes on each other. The way Lodi is celebrated; it is no less than any wedding sangeet party.

Loads of fun and pranks are played on this very day. The people dance till they get tired of it. Later, traditional Punjabi food is food is had for dinner. People never miss Lodi functions. The elders in this function search for girls and guys for their children and the youngsters get busy mingling with each other.

In the cities, Lodi is not celebrated often because of reasons like air and noise pollution. Small associations of Punjabis in the city celebrate Lodi in a very quiet manner. It is more grandly celebrated in villages.

So if at all you are invited for this fun-loving festival, don’t miss it. It is fun and when can you see soni kudis and mundas all ready to mingle.