Lohri is a Winter Bonfire Festival that's celebrated in Punjab, a region of India and Pakistan in January. At night, people sing Punjabi songs and throw popcorn and other offerings on the fire.

One aspect of Lohri is the tale of Dulla Bhatti. Bhatti is a Robinhood type figure from the 16th century who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Some say the custom of children going door-to-door for treats for Lohri is in honor of Dulla Bhatti giving to the less fortunate.

According to legend, Dulla Bhatti also saved Punjabi girls from being sold on the slave market. He helped arrange marriages for them and provided their dowries. Two girls he helped were Sunder and Munder. They became part of the folklore.

One version of the story, is that Dulla adopted one of the girls, and as her father he gave her away as a bride. In Hindi weddings, the bride and groom walk around a fire making offerings, while blessings are chanted to them by a priest. But there was no priest nearby.  Dulla Bhatti didn't know the blessings, so he made up the song below (called Sunder Mundriye) and chanted it to the couple. One theory is that's why the custom of singing this song around the bonfire while making offerings is part of the Lohri Festival.

Notes

*A Punjabi dish
**Said to a married couple

-The chorus "ho!" is sung at the end of every line.
-Often the last line is repeated.

Pronunciation:

Sunder mundriye – ho!
Tera kaun vicharaa – ho!
Dullah Bhatti walla – ho!
Dullhe di dhee vyayae – ho!
Ser shakkar payee – ho!
Kudi da laal pathaka – ho!
Kudi da saalu paata – ho!
Salu kauna samete – ho!
Chache choori kutti – ho!
Zamindara lutti – ho!
Zamindara sudhaye – ho!
Bade bhole aaye – ho!
Eka bhola reha gaya
Sipahee pakad ke lai gaya – ho!
Sipahee ne mari ita
Phaanvey ro te phaanvey pita – ho!
Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jori!

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Image: "Lohri" by Stuti, cc.