A fire was lit in the middle of the poolside courtyard at a luxury hotel. Guests from different communities broke into bhangra as they circled around the fire and drum beats filled the evening air. The Sikh community came together to celebrate Lohri on Saturday and they left no stone unturned to make it a gala event. Guests from different walks of life were welcomed to usher in the new harvesting season. With Lohri fire, bhangra and delectable Punjabi food, including Roah ki khir, halwa, khajur (a traditional sweet, not dates), pinni and other items, guests were treated to the best of flavours from Punjab.
“Lohri is our harvest festival and it also celebrates the opening of the financial year. We want our traditions to be followed by the next generations. That’s why we try to create a mini Punjab through this festival in Kolkata,” said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, one of the
leading members of the community. The festival also brought different communities together. “From Parsis to Christians to Hindus and other communities — this event is a celebration of bonhomie. We hold this festival to celebrate the city’s ethos of living together,” Satnam added. The guests were also seen enjoying every bit of the evening. Tiphane Mayran, deputy director, Alliance Francaise du Bengale, said, “This evening is so traditional and yet so modern in its approach. I am enjoying the vibrant colours, company of the lovely people and the fantastic food.”