|
List of Sindhi Hindu festivals
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 Jhoolelal and Cheti Chand. Sindhi Hindus festivals1. Cheti Chand[1] 2. Sagra (Sacred thread) Sindhi Bhaibands often lived in foreign countries; therefore, their wives were always worried about the good health of their husbands. For this purpose they performed 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. 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 Sindhis, generally Mondays & Saturdays, Giyaras (Ekadashi) or Umaas (Amavasya) were observed as fasts ( Vrats ). During the fast of Satyanarayan and nine days of Ekaanaas, only one meal was generally taken. 5. Teejri[3] 6. Akhan Teej[5] 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 (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 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 Sitladevi Mata. 11. Janamashtami, Ram Navmi and Shivratri Since Krishna was born after midnight, on Janamashtami, Bhajans 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' (Uttarayan) or 'Tirmoori' . In the battle in the Mahabharata 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 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 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 in Gujrat. 17. Lal Loi[6] 18. Rakhri 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 (Gogho) During those days whenever the snake charmer brought snakes, they were given some 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 Bhakt Prahlad. Literary festivalsRecently evolved festivals
References
|
||||||||||||||||
