India, Jan. 13 -- F or former Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu, Lohri is a festival of "gratitude, warmth, and staying close to my roots". The 25-year-old is celebrating the harvest festival this year in Mumbai, following the traditions she grew up with. "Lohri is very special and auspicious for me," she says, adding, "Wherever I am, I make it a point to visit a gurdwara and light a bonfire. I also love sending gajjak and rewaris to my close ones during this time, it's my way of sharing the joy." Growing up in Punjab, Lohri meant family gatherings, crackling bonfires and endless rounds of bhangra. "We would eat pinniya, gajjak and my taiji's sugarcane kheer," she recalls fondly. "The mustard fields, quiet mornings and the slower pace of life in my pind, it was all about catching up with cousins, listening to tales of Dulla Bhatti (a Punjabi folk hero, remembered as a Robin Hood figure who challenged Mughal rule), singing Lohri songs and dancing together. These memories are precious and always keep me grounded." Harnaaz is pleased to see Lohri finding resonance beyond Punjab: "Through music, culture, food and stories, the world should feel the joy behind our festivals. It's the heart that carries the pride, and that's what truly connects us all."...