Maghi or Lohri is a joyous harvest festival celebrated by various communities in India, and from a Catholic perspective, it can be viewed as a time to reflect on the blessings of abundance and express gratitude for God’s providence.

As the community gathers around the bonfire to mark the end of winter and the onset of longer days, there’s an opportunity to appreciate the symbolism of light overcoming darkness.

In the spirit of unity and shared festivities, we may see Maghi Lohri as an occasion to promote harmony, communal solidarity, and a sense of the universal family under the divine light that guides and nurture’s all. It’s a moment to recognise God’s presence in the changing seasons and to share the warmth of His love with one another, fostering connections that transcend religious and cultural boundaries.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. – Romans 8:20-21