Cheti Chand: Sindhi Hindus to celebrate birthday of their patron saint Jhulelal today

Cheti Chand, also known as Jhulelal Jayanti, is a festival celebrated by Sindhi Hindus on the first day of the Sindhi month of Chet, which falls on the second day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha. It is believed to be the birthday of Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis. The festival is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring and the harvesting season. This year, Cheti Chand will be celebrated today, 22nd March.

The Sindhis celebrate Cheti Chand by praying to the God of water to protect them from forced conversions. The festival is marked by making offerings and prayers to the God of water, and people can be seen worshipping near water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Sindhis carry out different rituals and pray for forty days, known as Chaliho, followed by the grand celebrations of Cheti Chand. People keep fast on this day and break it once they complete the ceremonial offerings with fruits. Rituals that are performed include taking Behrana Sahib, an offering consisting of an oil diya, cardamom, sugar, fruits, and Akho, to the lake or a river, and lighting Jyot Jagan, which is a diya made of wheat flour with five wicks. The Behrana Sahib is then immersed in the water, and Pallav is sung to receive blessings from the Lord.


Cheti Chand is celebrated as the birthday of Ishtadeva Uderolal, who is also known as “Jhulelal.” The Sindhis believe that Uderolal was born in 1007 after they prayed to the Hindu God Varun Devon on the banks of River Indus to save them from being persecuted by Muslim king Mirkshah. It is believed that the River God told the people that the divine child would be born in Nasarpur, who came to be known as “Saint Jhulelal'' to save them from the tyrant.

FAQs

Q1. What is Cheti Chand?
A: Cheti Chand is a festival celebrated by Sindhi Hindus on the first day of the Sindhi month of Chet, which marks the birthday of Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis.

Q2. When is Cheti Chand to be celebrated?
A: March 22, 2023