Cheti Chand 2023: The Sindhi Ugadi Dedicated To The Worship Of Jhulelal

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Sindhis from India and parts of Pakistan celebrate this festival. It happens to be a pan indian festival as well. The first day of the month of Chaitra is called Cheti by Sindhis and Chand refers to Moon. The birthday celebration of Varun Dev or Sai Uderolal or Jhulelal is the main purpose behind the Cheti Chand.

Water worship is predominant feature of this festival. They take Prasad made at home to a nearby lake and immerse Jhulelal idol in the waterbody. If the waterbody is nowhere to be found, they can perform this in a well as well.

Cheti Chand 2023: Date And Time

Cheti Chand falls on Wednesday, 22 March 2023.Cheti Chand Muhurat falls between 06:33 pm to 07:16 pm. Pratipada Tithi Starts at 10:52 pm on 21 Mar 2023 and Pratipada Tithi Ends at 10:10 pm on Mar 22, 2023.

Cheti Chand 2023: What Does Cheti Chand signify?

Chaitra is regarded to be an important month that is referred to as 'Chet' by the Sindhi community. The word Chand has another significance. Each new month as per their almanac begins with a new moon called Chand. Together it is called Cheti Chand day or Jhulelal Jayanti which is the Sindhi New year. Jhulelal who is the patron saint of Sindhis, personifies lofty virtues such as peace, equality. On this day, the Sindhi people worship Saint Jhulelal and Lord of water Varuna.

The Sindhi community celebrates this day to commemorate the birth of their Ishtadeva, Jhulelal. Jhulelal incarnated to save them from peril. He saved the Sindhis from the tyranny of a leader who was out to destroy the Sindhi culture and Hinduism. On this day they sing bhajans and prepare elaborate feasts to enjoy the day. Cheti Chand day is very auspicious for beginning any new ventures,

Cheti Chand 2023: Rituals and Celebrations

The 40 days' celebrations or ritual and prayer offerings are called Chaliho which is dedicated to the Jhulelal. The next day after Chaliho is chalked out to be the thanksgiving day. Fasting and praying are predominant features. Fasting is broken with coconut milk, sugar, molasses, and fruits. They carry something called Baharana to a nearby lake. The Baharana means a combination of oil lamp, sugar, cardamom, sugars, and fruits, coconut and Akha with a water jar placed on a huge plate. This plate is of course covered with cloth, flowers, and leaves.

An idol of Lord Jhulelal also accompanies these preparations. Jyoti Jagan is performed after this. Jyoti Jagan is made with a wheat flour lamp with five wicks which is lit on a bronze plate on which rice grains, pure ghee, and vermillion are placed. Now after the pujas conclude, Baharano Saheb is dipped in water along with Akho. Akho is the Prasad that is made of rice and sugar. They call Prasad as Akho. At this time of immersing Lal, one has to sing Lal Sain's Panjras and Pallav so that they gain his blessings. They also indulge in charitable activities on that day.

Once the celebrations dedicated to Jhulelal conclude, they return to their lavish celebrations that indicate their affluent culture. Thereafter people become busy with drama, dance, music and folk arts, dinners and get together. Sindhi businessmen begin their new financial year with Cheti chand. They make a Prasad with special ingredients made of sweet rice, chickpeas, and syrup.

Cheti Chand may be observed on the same day of Ugadi or the next day to it. But it is actually celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra Masa or month. Sindhi greeting for this day is "Cheti Chand jyon Lakh Lakh Wadayun Athav".

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