Chaliho Sahib Festival
Description of Chaliho Festival
Chaliho sahib is a festival of the Sindhu Community. Chaliho Sahib is a forty day fast observed by the Sindhis in the months of July-August. They pray to Lord Jhulelal for forty days and after the fast is over they celebrate the occasion as Thanks Giving Day with lots of gusto and festivities. Since majority of the population of Thatta was of Sindhi Community, Chailho Sahib became a festival of the Sindhis. On every Friday langar is arranged for all. some many times sindhi saints from Chakarbhata, Jaipur and other cities visit Balaghat for this celebration. If any native sindhi family wish to take out procession of Bahrana Sahib from their own residence both the mandals come forward to help them in all the ways.
Mirkshah Badshah, a Muslim invader of Sindhi was a tyrant and a religious fanatic. He troubled the people of Thatta and wanted them to convert to Islam. The Hindus prayed to Varun Devta or the God of Water by observing penance on the banks of the river for forty days. On the fortieth, Varun Devta heard their prayers and promised them to save them from the tyrant. The answer to the prayers of the Hindus was Jhulelal. Since majority of the population of Thatta was of SindhiCommunity, Chailho Sahib became a festival of the Sindhis.
During those forty days, the following rules are followed by all Sindhis :
- Avoiding consumption of white items like rice, curd or milk
- No sleeping on bed, but on floor
- No fried eatables
- No shaving or cutting hair
- No use of soap or oil
- No wearing leather belts or shoes
- Avoiding non-vegetarian food
- Wearing simple clothes
