EmmettAlbritton at 06:16, 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T06:16:38Z

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'''[[Sindhis]]''' have a rich and clearly distinct cultural heritage and are very festive. The most important festival for Hindu Sindhis is the birthday of Lord [[Jhulelal (Hinduism)|Jhoolelal]] and [[Cheti Chand]].

==Sindhi Hindus festivals==
'''1. [[Cheti Chand]]'''<ref>[https://www.festivalsofindia.in/ChetiChand/ Cheti Chand festival]</ref> 
Celebration of the birth of Sai Uderolal, the [[Avatar]] of [[Varuna|Varun]] Devta (the God of Water) popularly known as [[Jhulelal (Hinduism)|Jhulelal]]. So much has been said and written about it that it would be superfluous to mention the event again. In [[Sindh]] the beginning of the New Year was considered Cheti Chand. Some businessmen open new account books on Cheti Chand; many however, do that on the eve of [[Diwali]]. On the full moon, people used to go to a river or lake and offer 'Akho' with a pinch of rice mixed with milk and flour. If there was no river or 'Darya', the ritual was performed at a well. The festival is an opportunity for people of Sindhi origin to come together and pay tribute to their cultural and spiritual heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Jhulelal Jyanati 2023 Date {{!}} Why it is Celebrated |url=https://sindhi.co.in/jhulelal-jyanati-2023/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''2. Sagra (Sacred thread)'''
Sindhi [[Bhaiband]]s often lived in foreign countries; therefore, their wives were always worried about the good health of their husbands. For this purpose they performed [[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] and fasted on four Mondays of Sawan month, after which they perform pooja, distribute sweet rice and then had the sacred thread tied on the wrist by the priest ( Bandhan ).

'''3. [[Mahalakshmia jo sagro|Mahalakshmi's Sacred Thread (Mahalakshmi-a-jo-Sagro)]]'''
This sacred thread has 16 strips and 17 days. On the day when the sacred thread is to be untied, it is celebrated as an important day and special savouries like satpura and pakwan of Suji & Maida are made and distributed firstly to the priests and the poor and afterwards the remaining savouries are used by family members.

'''4. Fasts'''
In [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]]s, generally Mondays & Saturdays, Giyaras ([[Ekadashi]]) or Umaas ([[Amavasya]]) were observed as fasts ( [[Vrata|Vrats]] ). During the fast of [[Satyanarayan Puja|Satyanarayan]] and nine days of Ekaanaas, only one meal was generally taken.

'''5. Teejri'''<ref>[http://www.jhulelal.com/calender/Teejri.htm Tejri festival]</ref> 
This festival takes place in the month of [[Shraavana|Sawan]] when married women and girls paint their hands and feet with [[Mehndi]], go on fast for the whole day, during which time they play games, swing in Jhulas and sing love songs. Orthodox or strict Sindhi women do not even drink a sip of water until they break their fast. In the night after making an offering to the moon, they would break the fast. This is also referred to as the Sindhi version of Karwa Chauth.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Karva Chauth Story, Karvachauth Story, Karwa Chauth Story, Karvachauth Story | url=http://www.karwachauth.com/karwa-chauth-story.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029215315/http://www.karwachauth.com:80/karwa-chauth-story.html | access-date=2025-09-24 | archive-date=2004-10-29}}</ref>

'''6. Akhan Teej'''<ref>[http://www.sindhiinfo.com/festival/akhanteej.asp Akhan Teej festival]</ref> 
In Sindh, [[Akshaya Tritiya]] is known as Akhandi which is celebrated in [[Vaisakha]]. On this day new earthen pots of water (matkas) are kept and everyone is offered clean and cool water. The significance of this day is to offer water to the thirsty. Hence at every nook and corner, sharbat, with pieces of apple in it, are offered to passersby along with 'prasad'. On this day, it is also customary to send new earthen pots and fruits to Priests and [[Hindu temple|Mandirs]].

'''7. AUnn-Matyo'''
In the month of Sawan, on the Baaras ([[Dwadashi]]) of [[Krishna Paksha]], the cereals used in food are changed, i.e. instead of wheat and rice, chapatis made of gram flour ([[Gram flour|Besan]]) are eaten.

'''8. Ban Badhri'''
During the month of 'Bado', during the Baaras (Dwadashi) of Shukla Paksha, Varun Dev had taken an avatar. In lieu of that, small insects like ants etc. are fed Gur (jaggery) and Musti. Married daughters are invited by their parents for meals.

'''9. Somavati Umaas'''
During certain months Umaas takes place on a Monday. That day is considered important for having a [[Snana Yatra|Snan]] (Ritual dip) in the waters; without talking to anyone early in the morning. It is also called 'Gungee Umaas" (Ganga Amavasya).

'''10. Nandhi and Vaddi Thadri'''
Both of these take place in the month of Sawan. On the day before Thadree day, people cook lola (sweet flour cakes) and rote (fried cakes) because there has to be no lighting of fire in the house on the Thadree day. The lolas and Rotes are eaten with curd or pickle. On that day, drops of water are also sprinkled on the cooking fire to appease [[Shitala|Sitladevi Mata]].

'''11. Janamashtami, Ram Navmi and Shivratri'''
Since [[Krishna]] was born after midnight, on Janamashtami, [[Bhajan]]s and [[Kirtan]] are held in temples till midnight. On Ram Navmi, Lord Rama's birthday is celebrated. On Shivratri people drink 'Thaadhal' with some 'bhang' in it, after making offerings of it in the Mahadev temple. In the villages and cities, big pots of 'Taahri' (sweet rice) are prepared and distributed among all.

'''12. Tirmoori'''
On this festive day parents send ladoos & chiki ( Laaee ) made of Tils to their married daughters. On the [[Makar Sankranti]] day the sun moves from south to north. It is therefore also called 'Utraan' ([[Uttarayana|Uttarayan]]) or 'Tirmoori'. In the battle in the [[Mahabharata]] [[Bhishma|Bhishma Pitamah]] did not breathe his last till ‘ utraan' since on this day there happens a flash of light in Dev Lok and applying oil is prohibited in this festival.

'''13. [[Dussehra]]'''
A few days before [[Dussehra]] there is a Ramlila program which is attended by throngs of people. On the [[Dussehra]] day colourful effigies of [[Ravana]], [[Kumbhakarna]] and [[Indrajit|Meghnath]] are burnt.

'''14. Diyaaree'''
Two days before [[Diwali]], Sindhis start lighting Diyaas (earthen lamps) from 'Dhan Teras'. The bazaars are full with prospective consumers. Friends and relatives meet one another with affection and extend pleasantries and sweetmeats. In the night, Laxmi Poojan takes place when all the members of the family pray with reverence and respect. In the night, people take in their hands a stick to which a rag dipped in oil was tied and which is burnt. It is called 'Mollawaro'; everyone shouts 'Mollawaro ... . Mollawaro' ...

'''15. The Giyaras of Kati'''
Before the [[Partition of India|independence]] of [[Pakistan]] in 1947, on this day people in Sindh used to be engaged in giving charity. The whole bazaar would be full with hundreds of beggars and the needy, who would spread a cloth before them, on which people, according to their might, would throw money, Bhugra, fruits etc. The jugglers used to arrange their Tamashas on the road with monkeys and bears dancing on the tunes played by the jugglers. An atmosphere of gaiety prevailed all through the day.

'''16. [[Navratra]]'''
During this day, devotees of Devi eat one meal a day and do not even shave and cut hair. Ladies sing bhajans. In [[Nagarparkar]] they used to dance like [[Garba (dance)|Garba]] in Gujrat.

'''17. Lal Loi'''<ref>[http://www.jhulelalmandir.com/activity.php Lal Loi festival]</ref> In some parts of Sindh, the Sindhi community celebrates [[Lal Loi|Laal Loi]] on 13 January every year. During Lal Loi kids bring wood sticks from their grand parents and aunties and like a fire camp burn these sticks in the night with people enjoying, dancing, and playing around the fire. Some ladies whose wishes were fulfilled offer coconuts in the fire and distribute prasad 'Sesa'; this continues till midnight.

'''18. Rakhri''' 
During the [[Purnima]] of Sawan month, according to Daswani and Parchani (1978) the family priest in Sindh "traditionally tied a rakhi on the entire family while the ritual of a sister tying the [[Raksha Bandhan|Rakhi]] round a brother's wrist has been borrowed as a result of non-Sindhi influence in North India."<ref>Chander J. Daswani, S. Parchani (1978) Sociolinguistic Survey of Indian Sindhi. Central Institute of Indian Languages [https://books.google.com/books?id=EedjAAAAMAAJ&q=entire+family]</ref> In this festival, sisters tie a [[Raksha Bandhan|Rakhi]] to their brothers. This day is called "Rakhree Bandhan'. People in cities and places near rivers or the sea, used to offer coconuts and milk to the God of Waters 'Varun Devta so that those who were travelling in ships and boats should have a safe and sound journey.

'''19. Shraadh'''
Just as in India the month of September 'Bado' is meant for Krishna Paksha as Pitar Pakhiya. For any member of the family who had died on a particular (tithi) day and date, a Shraadh was offered for the solace of the deceased's soul. The Brahmins are given food and Dakhshna. It is said that Arya Samaj carried out a strong movement against Shraadh, but the Shraadhs continued because of the faith of people since they felt that through this method the deceased members of the family are remembered and all the family members have a good gathering.

'''20. Nagapanchmi ([[Gogro|Gogho/Gogro]])'''
During those days whenever the snake charmer brought snakes, they were given some [[Dakṣiṇā|Dakshina]] and also milk for the snakes. Nagpanchami is also called Gogho. It is a folklore from Kutch and Gujarat.

'''21. [[Holi]]'''
The festival of colours in which all the young and old join together to express their joy at the change of season. Some people correlate the Holi festival with [[Holika]], the sister of Hirnakashyap, father of [[Prahlad|Bhakt Prahlad]].

===Literary festivals===
* [[Sindh Literature Festival]]
* [[Hyderabad Literature Festival, Pakistan|Hyderabad Literary Festival]]
* [[Sindh Cultural Caravan 2021, Pakistan|Sindh Cultural Caravan]]

==Recently evolved festivals==
* [[Sindhi Cultural Day]], Sindhi cultural day is an annual festival celebrated in Sindh by [[Sindhis]] and across the world by the [[Sindhi diaspora]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sindhi Cultural Day being celebrated today|url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/04-12-2022/sindhi-cultural-day-being-celebrated-today|access-date=2022-12-04|website=www.radio.gov.pk|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{Sindhi festivals}}
{{Sindh topics}}

[[Category:Hindu holy days|Sindhi festivals]]
[[Category:Lists of festivals in Pakistan|Sindhi festivals]]
[[Category:Lists of festivals in India|Sindhi festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in Sindh|*]]
[[Category:Lists of religious festivals|Sindhi]]

List of Sindhi Hindu festivals - Revision history

EmmettAlbritton at 06:16, 19 April 2026