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Lohadi
At the end of the month of Pausha the Lohadi festival is celebrated in
every house. A month before this, the field workers go round from house
to house singing, Lohadi song known as 'Lohkadiyan'. The people welcome
the singers and give them gifts of food grains. On Lohadi night the boys
sing Harin (the deer) songs. A boy dresses up as a deer and prances about
as his companions sing songs. The singing and dancing lasts the whole
night. At night a bonfire is built outside the house and fed with jaggery,
sesame, rice and radishes. Sweet and savoury delicacies known as Babru
are cooked. The next day (Makar Sankranti day) the girls sing songs of
blessings known as 'Rajde'. People bathe and eat a meal of Khichadi (rice
and pulses cooked together). The married daughters are also invited for
this ritual meal of Khichadi and some of it is kept aside in the name
of the forefathers. In some areas young girls wear garlands made of dry
fruits around their necks.
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