Gul hopes protesting farmers can celebrate Lohri with families
FAfter a long time, actor Gul Panag will be spending Lohri with her parents in her village Mahadian, Punjab. That this is going to be her threeyear-old son Nihal’s first Lohri in Punjab with grandparents makes the celebration special.
“Since I’m mostly in Mumbai, celebrating Lohri with my parents had become a rarity. After many years, I’m hoping to relive those earlier days once again,” she says.
“As we go around the fire and throw sesame seeds into it, we usually say ‘Ishar aaye, dalidar jaye…’, meaning, leave the laziness behind because winter is ending and let’s get back to work with new vigour. Good thing about being in Delhi is that my parents’ house in Punjab or actor Manish Raisinghan, Lohri means burning a giant fire in the housing society in the evening, having fun with friends and family, followed by good food. And this being his and wife, actor Sangeita Chauhan’s first Lohri after marriage, the celebration was supposed to be special. But because of Covid-19, they’ll make merry at home.
“It’s a happy occasion that brings everyone together,” says Raisinghan, adding, “This year would be a small puja at home in the evening. Since Sangeita’s family doesn’t celebrate Lohri, she isn’t aware of it. My mother is going to make her familiar with the festival.”
“Sangeita’s brother went to Rajast
isn’t far, so I’m able to meet them more often,” says the Pataal Lok actor, who has been in Delhi since the beginning of the farmer’s protest.
She was among the many Bollywood celebrities who extended support to farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm bills.
Considering Lohri is an important festival for farmers in Punjab and Haryana, Panag adds, “They’re celebrating any which way, lighting fire every day to keep warm. Kabse hi to chal rahi hai unki Lohri. Since the protest is happening in Haryana, the whole thing is yeh Punjab ka protest hai. But you’ve to go on the ground to see kitne alag alag log shaamil hai.
I’ve been there, I know.”
Hoping that the han recently. He has also got us different kinds of gajaks and chikkis. Lohri is about throwing away laziness in the fire and getting back to being productive. Par pata nahi itna mithai khane ke baad kya hoga,” laughs the actor.
Apart from the traditional delicacies the couple is planning to make special chocolates for the family. “We’ve been thinking of making chocolate for long and now we’ve got a perfect occasion,” Singhan says. The family will also be helping people in need on the occasion.
“The last year has been difficult and things are yet to be back to normal. I hope we all get vaccinated and this virus gets out of our lives soon. I wish for better times and a Covid-19 free world,” he ends. farmers are able to be with their family for Lohri, Panag says everything depends on “what decision the Government” takes. “They haven’t left their families out of choice. They would rather be home than here,” she adds.
Ending on a positive note, Panag says, “Let’s leave the past behind and look towards a new future with hope.”