bonfire blazed brightly on a chilly January night. Around it, participants including Muslims, Christians and Sikhs celebrated together, dancing to the rhythm of traditional Punjabi music. On a stage adorned with sparkling lights, women and girls performed luddi and giddha, adding vibrant energy to the festivity. The joyful beats of Punjabi folk songs echoed through the air, amplifying the spirit of unity and nostalgia.

Lohri, the centuries-old cultural festival of the Punjab was celebrated in the courtyard of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, located in Warispura, Faisalabad. The event was hosted by Gurmeet Singh. A majority of those in attendance were from the Muslim community. The mixed and diverse gathering being hosted in a church beautifully reflected the spirit of Lohri, symbolising harmony and shared cultural heritage.

The smiles on the faces of the participants and the sparkle in their eyes showcased their pride in reviving a cultural legacy that represents unity and shared traditions. Alongside the traditional bonfire, iconic Punjabi dishes such as saag, makai ki roti (cornbread) were served, accompanied by jaggery, sugar, sesame seeds, peanuts and rewri—all essential elements of Lohri festival.

For many of the elderly participants, the event evoked cherished memories of Lohri celebrations from their childhood, creating a nostalgic and heartwarming connection to the past.

The organiser of the Lohri Mela, Gurmeet Singh, recalled that he had first taken the initiative for a public celebration in 2008.

“We’ve celebrated Lohri privately since childhood. This festival is deeply rooted in Punjabi culture. It is not confined to any religion. It represents the essence of the Punjab. We wanted to revive it because our society was fragmented by religious differences. Lohri is a way to bridge those divides and promote unity,” he says.

Gurmeet Singh, a man of diverse talents, is committed to preserving cultural heritage, promoting peace and fostering community development. He was born and raised in Faisalabad. He has dedicated his life to safeguarding Pakistan’s cultural legacy.

“As founder and chairman of Lok Vehar Development Organisation, I advocate for harmony and protection minority rights. Additionally, I am a motivational speaker and a heritage conservationist,” he says.

“My mission is to document and share Pakistan’s rich religious and cultural history with the world. I take pride in being Pakistan’s first Sikh RJ (radio jockey) and am committed to bringing lasting positive change.”

Recalling the first public Lohri celebration he organised, Gurmeet notes that only a handful of guests attended. “The guests included our school teachers, close friends and their families. By chance, one of our friends brought along a foreign guest. Witnessing her joy as she observed the vibrant traditions and rituals was deeply fulfilling. I felt immense pride in presenting Punjab’s cultural richness to her,” he recalls.

Initially, many people misunderstood Lohri as a festival exclusive to Sikhs, Gurmeet says. “I had to clarify that Lohri isn’t tied to any particular religion. It’s a cultural festival of the Punjab that celebrates unity and shared heritage.”

“Celebrating Lohri is important because it symbolises Punjab’s rich cultural legacy and fosters unity among diverse communities. It transcends religious boundaries, emphasising harmony and shared traditions.”

Initially, many people misunderstood Lohri as a festival exclusive to Sikhs, Gurmeet explained. “I had to clarify that Lohri isn’t tied to any particular religion. It’s a cultural festival of the Punjab that represents unity and shared heritage.”

Gurmeet says that, in a society divided by religious and cultural differences, the Lohri festival serves as a platform to bring people together and celebrate diversity.

“Lohri, as a cultural festival rooted in the Punjabi tradition, transcends any singular faith. It has become a symbol of regional identity, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity while preserving and celebrating the shared heritage of the region.”

He notes that, over time, public celebration of Lohri has undergone significant change. The event, which started with a handful of participants, now attracts hundreds and is eagerly anticipated.

“The Lohri celebrations have grown from small, intimate gatherings to large, more inclusive events that draw participants from various communities. It has evolved into a proud cultural symbol and a practical way to promote religious harmony in a once divided society.”

Gurmeet says he is proud of his role in revitalising this cultural tradition in Pakistani Punjab, emphasising its role in strengthening community bonds and highlighted the importance of shared celebrations in fostering unity.

Lohri is a seasonal festival celebrated on the night marking the end of the Punjabi month Poh and the beginning of Magh. Historically, it was observed after the sugarcane harvest, with villagers gathering around a bonfire in the evening, enjoying the winter chill while indulging in traditional delights like jaggery, sesame seeds and nuts.

Over time, the festival became associated with honouring Rai Abdullah Khan Bhatti, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti. According to folklore, during Emperor Akbar’s reign, Dulla Bhatti, a chieftain from Pindi Bhattian, rescued a Hindu girl who had been abducted by the emperor’s soldiers to be taken to his harem. Dulla not only saved her but also arranged her marriage to a Hindu boy.

In the absence of her parents and a priest, Dulla himself lit a fire, performed the rituals as her guardian and gave her a gifted of jaggery and sesame seeds.

Unfamiliar with traditional wedding chants, he improvised his own, which later became the iconic Lohri song. Today, this song is sung to honour Dulla Bhatti’s courage and selflessness.

According to Punjabi short story writer Maqsood Saqib, the Lohri festival originally marked the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

“The bonfire lit on this occasion symbolises the communal culture of the Punjab where fire and hearth were shared and collective meals were cooked,” he says.

He says that during Lohri, children would go door-to-door, collecting fuel for the fire, chanting:

“Deo paathi, tahada munda charho haathi”

(Give us fuel and may your son ride an elephant)

Or they would sing:

“Lohri, Lohri, Lohri, jiye tahadi balan di jodi”

(Lohri, Lohri, Lohri may your children thrive in pairs)

If someone refused to give anything, the children would retort:

“Hookah, Hookah, Hookah, eh ghar bhukkha, bhukkha, bhukkha”

(Hookah, Hookah, Hookah, this house is stingy, stingy and stingy)

The fuel so collected would then be piled up in an open space in the village and set ablaze. Villagers would gather around the fire, chat and enjoy the warmth. Later, each person would take a burning stick from the communal fire to light the fire at their individual hearth. Letting one’s fire go out was considered a sign of neglect and carelessness in safeguarding the shared flame.

Saqib says when Dulla learnt about the abduction of Hindu girls, he took it upon himself to protect them. Instead of siding with his fellow Muslim emperor and his soldiers, he defended the poor Hindu girls and redistributed wealth looted by the authorities among the people.

“In this way, the festival is not just about marking a seasonal change or celebrating the sugarcane harvest and jaggery; it’s also a reflection of the Punjab’s spirit of solidarity, harmony and resistance against oppression,” he says.

“Lohri is a celebration of the shared cultural identity of the Punjab, rooted in its tradition of unity and communal living. To reduce it to a mere association with sugarcane or sweets is to overlook its profound cultural and historical significance.”

The writer has been associated with journalism for the past decade. He tweets @naeemahmad876