Bollywood actors have started celebrating the harvest festival of 'Lohri', which is observed on January 13 every year to mark the day of the Winter Solstice.
Veteran Bollywood actors, Rakesh Roshan and Jeetendra, participated in the celebrations, organised by the Punjabi Cultural Heritage Board.
During the festival, people huddle around bonfires and throw rice and popcorn into the flames, thanking god for a good harvest and seek prosperity in the coming year.
"I wish you all a very happy Lohri, happy new year, a great new year and all the happiness in the world," said Jeetendra.
Actor Ranjit and actress, Kuljeet Randhawa also took part in the festivities.
This festival is celebrated to mark the end of the harvesting season of Rabi (winter) crops.
More From This Section
Bonfires, dance, music and offering of sweets, crisp rice and popcorn prepared on the bonfire form an integral part of celebrations.
"Lohri has arrived and see how cold it is. During the festival, we pray to God, burn Lohri and there are Punjabi songs. All the Punjabis get together as this is a festival mainly celebrated in Punjab. In Mumbai, the Punjabi Cultural Heritage Board is organising the Lohri festival for the last five years," said one of its organisers, Charan Singh Sapra.
The harvest festival is known as Lohri in the northern parts of India, in the south it is celebrated as Pongal. While in northeastern Assam, it is hailed as Bihu and in the rest of India, it coincides with Hindu festival of 'Makar Sankranti'.
