In Pakistan, a bid to revive Lohri – and remember Dulla Bhatti, a forgotten folk hero

“Vaisakhi and Lohri are cultural festivals of Punjab. Not celebrating these festivals means detaching from history. Lohri was lost in Pakistan after Mohammad Zia-Ul-Haq, former Pakistani chief of Army Staff, took over. He brought many changes in Pakistan which affected festivals like Lohri and Vaisakhi,” said Ali Usman Bajwa, who has been organising Lohri functions at the PILAC campus under the banner of ‘Punjabi Sangat Pakistan’.

“The festival of Lohri in Pakistan was more popular among the Dalit population, especially Valmikis. There is a story that Dulla had come to Lahore with his mother Ladhi. Here, he shared his meal with a Dalit girl, who became his sister. Valmikis used to take out a procession on Lohri. They would organise wrestling competitions, and if someone from a poor background would defeat a wealthy Pehlwan (wrestler), they would call the winner ‘Dulla’. I have seen the Lohri celebrations in my childhood,” Pakistan-based lawyer-writer Nain Sukh reminisced. Nain Sukh is the pen name of Khalid Mahmood, a recipient of the prestigious Dhahan award for excellence in Punjabi literature.

Dulla was a rebel during the rule of Mughal king Akbar, who got him executed. “Dulla could never fit into the narrative of feudal lords. The British also glorified Akbar. The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League perceive Akbar as a kind and great king. But he was the king who had imposed heavy taxes to construct monuments and buildings. Akbar was not kind to people. Peasants in Punjab used to hate him. Abuses were hurled at him in Punjabi folklore,” said Nain Sukh.

According to folklore, Dulla was born in Pindi Bhattian village, now in West Punjab, in the mid-16th century. Dulla’s father and uncles were executed on the orders of Akbar and their bodies were hanged for public display. Dulla’s mother Ladhi kept it a secret from Dulla. However, he learnt about his family history from outsiders and became a rebel.

One reason why Dulla is still popular among the non-Muslim population is his act of kindness towards the daughters of a poor Brahmin family, Sundari and Mundari. He saved the sisters from a Mughal officer and helped in marrying both the sisters. This is the story behind the famous song ‘Sundar Mundariye Ho, Tera Kaun Vichara Ho, Dulla Bhatti Wala Ho’.

Lohri and Dulla Bhatti are part of the school syllabus in Punjab but there is no mention of both in school textbooks in Pakistan.

“The Dalit and Valmiki population which used to celebrate Dulla in Pakistan gradually converted to Christianity after which their culture changed, and their future generations also forgot Dulla in West Punjab,” said Nain Sukh.

“Now, some people have started celebrating Lohri in the main cities of West Punjab like Lahore, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, and Gujrat. A perception had developed over the decades after Partition that Vaisakhi was associated with Sikhs and Lohri was associated with Hindus,” said Iqbal Qaiser, historian and writer based in Pakistan.

“Those who celebrate Lohri do not ask about their religion, caste, sect, etc. Such festivals will lead Pakistan towards peace and harmony. The Pakistan government should promote such festivals like Lohri and icons like Dulla,” said Bajwa.

On why Lohri should be celebrated in Pakistan, he said, “Lohri is a secular and cultural festival. It celebrates Dulla. Lohri will motivate our generations to fight against oppression. It is also a festival related to a change in weather. Lohri connects us with the economy of Punjab. It unites all Punjabis. It brings us back to Punjab before the British. Lohri detoxifies society. We are hopeful that day will come when Lohri will be celebrated in West Punjab as it is celebrated in East Punjab.”