This Friday is the day Lohri is celebrated, a day that I fondly remember as part of a fun South Asian tradition growing up.

As kids, we looked forward to this day years in advance - there was no knowing when it would be celebrated next in my hometown in Malaysia.

You see, Lohri was only celebrated by families when there was a male birth, or if a son had gotten married in the previous 12 months.

Lohri was the best when more than one household celebrated it in the same year. I remember vividly in my early teens when one year, there were four Lohris to celebrate.

Dressed in our finest salwar kameez, we started out in the early evening before dusk. We were part of a colourful parade as we made our way to the first house singing, dancing and talking. Once we arrived, the women would gather around the bonfire and start the blessing ceremony. They would sing specific songs that were either blessings for the male newborn or the newly married man. Of course, for the man, the songs centred on him fathering many sons!

These are my memories of celebrating Lohri growing up. I didn't realize until much later in life exactly what celebrating Lohri meant - that it was, and still is, a celebration of and for males.

Even here in Canada people still celebrate male births, throwing big parties to show their friends and family that they have a successor to the family name. Only recently has the community started to become vocal in denouncing this practice. In the last few years, local Punjabi newspapers now give greetings to both genders, no longer singling out males.

There are now a few enlightened families who have celebrated Lohri for the birth of their daughters. These actions have sent a profound message to the community here and were well-received by many. People are now realizing that it is OK to celebrate the birth of a daughter, that girls are not a burden and, in fact, are a blessing.

To parents of new daughters, celebrate Lohri with all the pomp and let the world know you cherish your daughter just as much as your son. Lohri greetings to all!