Lohri: Folklore, Festival, and the Legacy of Dulla Bhatti

Lohri is a traditional Punjabi festival celebrated primarily in the northern regions of India, particularly in Punjab, on January 13 each year. The festival marks the end of winter, the harvest of the Rabi crop, and is observed with bonfires, songs, dance, and offerings of jaggery, sesame, and grains.

Behind the festive rituals lies a folkloric and historical narrative, prominently associated with Rai Abdullah Khan Bhatti, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti, a 16th-century rebel leader of Rajput-Bhatti lineage, who is remembered as a symbol of resistance against Mughal oppression.

Historical Background

Dulla Bhatti was born in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab (modern-day Nankana Sahib in Pakistan) during the reign of Emperor Akbar. His father and grandfather were Muslim Rajput landlords (zamindars) who opposed the imposition of Mughal taxes. Refusing to pay revenue to the imperial administration, they engaged in skirmishes with the Mughal-appointed faujdar and were ultimately executed around 1555 CE, four months before Dulla’s birth.

A popular legend claims that Dulla Bhatti and Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir) were both nursed by the same woman, Ladhi, Dulla’s mother. In folklore, Ladhi symbolically touched a sword to Dulla’s mouth at birth, signifying his martial destiny.

Rebel Leader and Folk Hero

As he grew older, Dulla discovered his family’s past and took up arms, forming a band of highway rebels who targeted Mughal trade routes. His redistribution of wealth to the poor, especially landless peasants and villagers, earned him admiration and made him a Robin Hood-like figure in Punjabi folklore.

Dulla Bhatti’s acts included protecting women from exploitation. One of the most famous stories involves a poor Brahmin who sought help to marry off his two daughters, Sundari and Mundari. Dulla organized a community effort, collecting grains and jaggery for their wedding and lit bonfires along their wedding route for protection. These acts are considered the origins of several Lohri traditions, including the Sundar-Mundriye folk song sung by children.

The Song: Sundar Mundriye

One of the core elements of Lohri is the folk ballad “Sundar Mundriye”, which narrates the tale of Dulla Bhatti’s heroism. The lyrics celebrate his role in protecting girls and redistributing wealth. Children sing this ballad door to door, receiving sweets and coins in return.

Martyrdom

Dulla Bhatti’s influence grew across Punjab, as zamindars stopped paying taxes and Mughal officials failed to subdue his rebellion. Eventually, Mughal forces feigned peace negotiations and captured him by poisoning his food. He was hanged in 1599 CE. The mystic poet Shah Hussain is said to have recorded Dulla’s last words:

“No honourable son of Punjab will ever sell the soil of Punjab.”

Legacy and Cultural Significance

Although considered a rebel and dacoit by the Mughal Empire, Dulla Bhatti is revered in Punjabi oral tradition as a freedom fighter, protector of women, and symbol of agrarian resistance. The bonfire, distribution of sweets, and singing of ballads during Lohri are believed to commemorate his legacy.

In modern times, Dulla Bhatti’s tomb is located at Miani Sahib Graveyard in Lahore, and his story remains central to Punjabi identity and folklore.

Connection to Rajput History

Dulla Bhatti hailed from the Bhatti Rajput clan, traditionally associated with martial heritage and chieftainship in Punjab and Rajasthan. His resistance against Emperor Akbar is one of the early instances of peasant uprisings led by Rajput chiefs in the Mughal period, making Lohri not just a seasonal festival, but a memorialization of Rajput valor and agrarian defiance.