Lohri Fairs or Lohri Melas

On Lohri day, colorful fairs or melas are held in many of the villages of Punjab, Himachal and Haryana. These are basically seasonal fairs that celebrate the harvest for the fertility of fields. Lohri fairs are enchantingly picturesque with bustling market springing up, in which food and products of local handicrafts such as toys, glass bangles and an assortment of all kinds of articles for domestic use are on display.

People come to participate in Lohri Melas from far-off places, trudging dusty distances. Men women and children of all ages, classes and creeds flock in hundreds and enjoy the numerous fascinating features of the fair; races, wrestling bouts, singing, acrobatics, etc. They play on folk instruments, such as vanjli and algoza.

There is fun and frolic all round the place where the Lohri fair is organized. The old as well as the young enjoy these fairs to the fullest as these fairs reflects the joy of the community. People enjoy the day inspite of cold weather as they very well know that warmth is not far away. Lohri festival is not just an occasion for festivity and mass gathering but it is an unbounded expression of the spirit of the inner freedom, of creative pride, of zest for life, and of colorful traditions of the people of Punjab.

Lohri Melas in Towns
In big cities and towns Lohri Melas are organized before or after the festival to give people an opportunity to get together. Stalls of handicraft and other products besides those selling food are organized in these fairs. Bonfire, joyful competitions along with swings and games are other attractions of traditional Lohri Melas. On several occasions, Lohri Melas are graced by popular singers and dancers making them all the more enjoyable. Punjabis living outside India too organize Lohri Melas and enjoy the festival to the hilt.

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