By:Saloni VatsPATNA: Lohri, the festival of harvest, was celebrated amid fun and fervour by the Punjabi community here on Sunday. Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Hall witnessed turnout of hundreds of Punjabi Bradri members. Women dancing to the tunes of ‘Ve tu laung mein tu lanchi’ and ‘Aa gayi Lohri ve’ set the ambience right for the participants.Lohri is celebrated by the people of Sikh community all over the world a night before Makar Sankranti . The festival is celebrated to mark the harvest of rabi crops.Former minister and JD(U) functionary Shyam Rajak was the chief guest at the event. Sneh Gupta, chairperson of Punjabi Bradri’s women wing said Lohri is a very special festival for the community as it symbolizes new beginning for all individuals.Sneh said, “After enjoying the dance and music programme, we lit bonfire. The members of the Bradri along with their families and friends took rounds around the bonfire while throwing puffed rice , revari (a sweet) and ‘til’ (sesame seeds) into it.”“Newly-wed couples and new parents were wished on the occasion,” Sneh added.Punjab Bradri general secretary Sanjay Saluja said the Bradri has been celebrating the festival for the last 50 years with same zeal and enthusiasm in the city. “Around 300 members with their families and friends participated in the celebration on Sunday. Dance and ‘gidda’ by kids and women were the highlights of the event,” he added.The members of the community also relished ‘Gajar ka halwa’, ‘tilkut’ and ‘pakoda’. Lohri songs were sung by the elders.