2024 Cheti Chand

Jhulelal Jayanti (Cheti Chand) Sindhi Festival

Jhulelal Jayanti is also known as the Cheti Chand festival and is a Sindhi Festival celebrated widely by the Indian Sindhis and the Pakistani Sindhis all throughout the world.

Cheti Chanda on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Ideally, Sindhi New Year is celebrated on the Shukla Dwitiya of the Chaitra month and is known as Cheti Chand. The month of Chaitra is known as Chet in Sindhi and the moon is called Chandu. Chetichand ideally means the “Moon in the month of Chaitra.” The Festival falls on 25th of March this year.

During Cheti Chand, the devotees of Sindh region celebrate this festival. Prior to this day, a wooden temple is built and Jhule Lal’s idol is placed on the main altar.

Story of Jhulelal’s Creation

Jhulelal Jayanti is now also known as ChetiChand and is known to be the birthday of “Avatar Yugapur.”

Do you know the story behind the Sindhi faith?

Let us tell you the story of Jhulelal Jayanti.

During the Muslim era, there was an emperor called, Mirakhshah in 1007 (950 AD) who ruled in the “Thatta city of Sindh region in Pakistan.” This was a time when he was threatening Hindu conversions into Islam. His strict decree said that Hindus may either choose to convert to Isalm or they may die as a consequence.

The Sindhis were very disturbed during this period of time, since most of them did not favour this tyrannical concept of living. Thus, it is said that during this point of time one day, they remembered their Gods near the Indus river. The Indus river was a culmination point of Sindhi culture and men, women and children gathered together near it to pray for the hard times seeking directions.

But, then suddenly a fish galloped by and then a strange being appeared sitting on the fish riding and galloping in the Indus waters.

Soon, there was an Akash Vani (broadcast from the sky) that post seven days their saviour would be born in Shri Ratan Rai's home to Mother Devaki (different from Krishna’s mother). On that due date, the child was born and he was named Jhulelal. This news reached MirakhShah and he was worried. So he sent some soldiers to kill this child. When Mirakhshah’s soldiers found the child, he was quite big.

Seeing this child, Mirakhshah’s soldiers were stunned by the smile on the baby’s face. They saw that the child was at one point standing in front of a blue horse and at another time, the child was swimming with the fish. They got scared seeing this, and the ministers were panicky and apologized quickly.

But Mirakhshah did not agree, and went into a battle with the kid who had by now built a huge, fearless army around him. The battle was fought and Mirakhshah was defeated but he surrendered and Jhulelal forgave him.

He thus ordered Mirakh Shah and his army to not disturb the Sindhis and to rule by treating the Hindua and the Muslims equally. Jhulelal was an incarnation scattering universal brotherhood and goodwill.

Here is full Chaitra Navratri Calendar For All Nine Days.

Jhulelal disappeared in 1020 on the Shukla Chaturdashi day of Bhadrapada.

Puja Vidhi of Jhulelal Jayanti.

• A pot of water and a fire is burnt near the altar and on the day of worship, Jhule Lal’s temple is carried to the river on the day of Cheti Chand.
• It is a 40 day penance observed by the Sindhis.
• During these 40 days, they give up luxuries, like soaps and perfumes.
• They do not use oil even for bathing, abstain from wearing new clothes.
• The Sindhi community does not eat rich food and stick to simple food habits during the 4 day period before Cheti Chand.
• They spend a lot of time singing hymns of God.
• Cheti Chand marks the end of Chahilo and calls for huge celebrations.

• The murti (idol) of Jhulelal Devta is placed in the wooden altar on this day of Cheti Chand.
• It is believed that Jhulelal Devta is a combined force that was created by Water and Fire together.
• The mornings begin usually with the worship of Jhule lal.
• A procession is taken out and is known as Baharana Sahib.

• The procession during Jhulelal Jayanti usually consists of akhand jyoti (oil lamp), and this jyoti is placed on a flour pot (flour diya).
• Food is served to Jhulelal in the form of wheat and sugar mix.
• A pot made of bronze is carried alongside with a coconut covered in a red cloth during Jhulelal Jayanti.
• Flowers and leaves are also offered to Jhulelal on this particular day.
• The procession is taken out and people reach the water body.
• The akha is offered to the water God in the water source on the day of Cheti Chand.
• The misri (large crystals of sugar) is offered as Prasad alongside the fruits.
• During Jhulelal Jayanti, Sindhis generally wear beautiful clothes and join the procession of Jhule Lal.
• This whole process of worshipping on the day of Cheti Chand is followed by the cultural programme and a cultural procession.
• There is also a free langar organised during this period of time.

During Jhulelal Jayanti, every single household prepares a lot of sweet dishes- some fried and some boiled delicacies.

Visit here is Diwali Festival Calander.

These dishes are served alongside their favourite food- Sindhi Biryani, Mithi Koki, Dal Pakhwan, Vaishnu Bhaji and Dharun Ji Chutney.

Jhulelal Jayanti is a Universal symbol of brotherhood and is celebrated by both the Pakistani Sindhis and the Indian Sindhis equally. Baharana Sahib is taken out equally by the Hindus and the Muslims who join together celebrating this festival.