MOHALI: Lohri was celebrated at the Rayat Bahra University with gay abandon as the students organised a rich cultural programme. The mood on the campus was upbeat and the students were totally absorbed in the festive spirit of Lohri. They danced in true festive spirit around a bonfire to the beat of drums with the girls performing gidha and the boys performed bhangra.
The function started with speeches highlighting the importance of the festival of Lohri, which ushers in the cheerful spring season bidding adieu to the dull winter.
Chairman of the Rayat Bahra Group Gurvinder Singh Bahra and Vice-Chancellor Dr Daljit Singh lit the bonfire which was followed by the cultural programme.Madam Manjit kaur Bahra along with Sahila Bahra & Gurinder Bahra also graced the occasion.
Bahra conveyed his Lohri congratulations to the staff and students. He said Lohri is celebrated to mark the end of peak winter and it is traditionally associated with the harvest of the Rabi crops. The time to harvest sugarcane crops is January and therefore Lohri is seen by some to be a harvest festival.
Dr Daljit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, speaking on the occasion said Lohri is the harvest festival of Punjab, famously known as the bread-basket state of India. Thus, people residing in Punjab attach a great significance to Lohri, the festival of feasts and foods. This harvest festival is celebrated to mark both celebration and sharing.
The staff and students enjoyed peanuts, rewari and gazak.