It is 9 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago. The ground is covered in snow. About 60 of us are taking turns going near a bonfire built by my indefatigable friend, Deepak Khurana, to celebrate the traditional Indian festival of Lohri – a celebration of beginning of the harvest season in the old days.

We stand outside for a few minutes singing old folk songs and laughing, and then rush inside to the warmth of his cozy home.

I remember celebrating Lohri as a young boy in Delhi. All the neighbors would gather around a bonfire, wishing Happy Lohri to one another, and enjoying roasted corn and sweets. It was an annual ritual, and a heart-warming one. Really an excuse to come together as neighbors!

Even as old age dulls my other senses, my sense of nostalgia is sharper than ever.

Happy Lohri everyone!