A lot has changed over the
years.
Morning I called upon my neighbor to wish her ‘a Happy New Year’..Well!
There was not much sign of the celebrations of Cheti Chand in a Sindhi house.
Celebrating Sindhi festivals have narrowed down to attending a Sindhi Mela,
(community festival) in the evening, where there are cultural shows and
traditional food on sale, but other than that there is no sign of celebration
in any homes.
Cheti Chand is the important
festival in Sindhi home (or rather it used to be during my growing up days)
I used to wake up to the
traditional hymn devoted to Lord JhuleLal during early hours. There used to be
fragrance of sweetened rice and cooked Chana in the kitchen. Early morning Mom
used to make preparation to go to temple and offer her prayers by making
bharano Chej.
At the temple, she and other
women would make molds from flour dough shaping one mold in round shaped base
for large crystalized sugar, decorated with silver edible foil and dry fruits
while another dough molded into a shape of lamp with the stuffing of cloves and cardamom on
its side and pure ghee with a wick for used for lighting the lamp. These molds along with sweetened
rice, cooked Chana, fruits, biscuits, flowers, vermillion and few coins were
placed in a big tray. She would place the tray on her head and turn 360 degrees,
offering her prayers to Jhulelal. Later she and other ladies would go to the
seashore to feed the fishes. They would sing Lal Sain’s Panjaras and Palav to
seek His grace
Not many youngsters do observe
this ritual any more. Like Sindhi language, Sindhi traditions are gradually
fading too. Not many are aware of the story behind it.
Cheti Chand is celebrated on
the first day of Chaitra month known as Chet in Sindhi. It is celebrated in the
honor of the birth of Ishtadeva Uderolal, popularly known as Jhulelal, the
patron saint of Sindhis. On this day, people worship water- the elixir of life.
Followers of Jhulelal observed Chaliho Sahab that meant that for forty long days
and nights, they underwent rituals and vigil on the bank of Sindhu. Fasting
meant, no new clothes, no shoes, no shaving, no use of soap. The clothes were
just rinsed and worn. Days were spent offering prayers to God Varun seeking
solace and salvation. After 40 days of Chaaliho, the followers of Jhulelal
celebrated the occasion with festivity as ‘Thanks Giving Day’ During the
festival there used to be long procession and Sindhi folk dance called ‘Chej’
was performed during the procession.
However, thanks to Sindhi
community who do try their best to keep their culture and tradition alive.
After 65 years of migrations, with Sindhis scattered all over the world, many
communities around the world do make an effort to keep the tradition going. New
ventures are started, children are encouraged to participate in the cultural
shows and a special delicious traditional Sindhi Cuisine is cooked in some
houses even till this day.
Wishing all my visitors a
‘Happy New Year’
Happy to share the recipe of
‘Sweetened Rice’ called ‘Tehri’ from page no 123 in my book on #SindhiCuisine
Ingredients:
2 cups rice
1cup sugar
2tbsp Ghee
A pinch of saffron thread
2green Cardamom
5Almonds
4-5 raisins
2tbsp fresh coconut, cut
into strips
Salt to taste
Method:
1.
Cook
rice in one cup of water and very little salt, cardamom and saffron.
2.
When
rice is half cooked, add sugar and ghee and cook till tender.
3.
Garnish
with almonds, raisins and coconut strips.
4.
Serve
hot with papad and yogurt.
5.
Alternatively
you could also serve with spicy cooked Kara Chana.
