Cheti Chand: Celebrating Sindhi New Year and Honouring Lord Jhulelal

Cheti Chand, also known as Jhulelal Jayanti, is a significant festival for the Sindhi community. Celebrated on the Pratipada Tithi of Chaitra, Shukla Paksha, it marks the Sindhi New Year and the birth anniversary of Lord Jhulelal. This festival is observed with various rituals and traditions that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Sindhi people.

Cheti Chand holds immense importance as it commemorates the birth of Lord Jhulelal, believed to be an incarnation of the Water God, Varun Devta. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm as it signifies new beginnings and prosperity. It is a time for Sindhis to come together and honour their deity.

The historical story behind Cheti Chand involves a tyrannical ruler named Mirkhshah. He ordered the Sindhis to convert to Islam or face dire consequences. The Sindhi people prayed for 40 days at the Sindhu river bank. On the fortieth day, a divine prophecy foretold the birth of a child who would save them.

This child, born to Devaki and Ratanchand Lohano, was named Udaichand but fondly called Uderolal. Known as Jhulelal, he performed miracles from a young age. Mirkshah tried to harm him but eventually acknowledged his divine power and bravery.

Rituals and Traditions of Cheti Chand

During Cheti Chand, an earthen wheat lamp with five wicks is lit on a bronze plate filled with rice grains, ghee, and vermillion. This ritual is known as Jyot Jagan. Wheat Modaks decorated with vermillion, cardamom, almonds, and cloves are also offered.

Five types of fruits and flowers are placed in a separate plate along with a copper jar of water topped with a coconut covered in red cloth. Lamps and incense sticks are lit as part of the celebration. People perform "Chhej" dance in processions to riverfronts or seashores.

How Cheti Chand is Celebrated

The celebration involves lighting an earthen wheat lamp on a bronze plate filled with rice grains, ghee, and vermillion. Wheat Modaks are decorated and offered alongside fruits and flowers. The "Chhej" dance is performed by young and old alike in processions.

The dancers form circles with sticks in their hands, clapping them to the rhythm of drums and tunes of Shehnai. This dance takes worshippers into a dreamlike state, enhancing their spiritual connection during the festival.

Cheti Chand Wishes

The Kathaa Associated with Cheti Chand

The kathaa associated with Cheti Chand tells of how Lord Jhulelal saved the Sindhis from Mirkshah's tyranny. The divine prophecy about his birth gave hope to the people who prayed for deliverance at the Sindhu river bank for forty days.

This story highlights Jhulelal's miraculous powers from infancy when his cradle rocked on its own, earning him the name Jhulelal from his parents who witnessed these wonders.

The Deity: Lord Jhulelal

Lord Jhulelal is depicted as an old man with a white moustache and beard, wearing royal attire adorned with a peacock feather crown. He is often shown seated on a lotus on a fish's back in the Sindhu river.

This imagery symbolises his connection to water as an incarnation of Varun Devta, reinforcing his significance in protecting his devotees from adversity.

The Attire and Food During Cheti Chand

No new clothes are worn during Cheti Chand as part of its observance rituals which focus on simplicity and devotion rather than materialism or luxury items like soap or oil for bathing purposes.

The food prepared includes Guji Deg (a sweet dish) along with Modaks made from wheat flour decorated using cardamom almonds cloves topped off by refined sugar pieces sprinkled lightly over them before serving up fresh milk garlanded around these offerings too!