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Chalio / Chaliho also called Chaliho Sahib is a forty-day-long festival celebrated by Hindu Sindhi community. [1][2][3]
Mirkshah, a Muslim ruler of Sindh had ordered all Hindus to forcibly convert to Islam or face persecution. The Hindu representatives asked for a forty days time from the ruler to give their reply.[1]
The frightened Hindus of Sindh prayed to their river God Varuna to come and help them. For forty days, they underwent penance. They neither shaved nor wore new clothes, praying and fasting and singing songs in the praise of God Varuna. They beseeched him to save them from the hands of their persecutor.[1]
On a fortieth day, a voice was heard from Heaven: "Fear not, I shall save you from the wicked Mirkshah. I shall come down as a mortal and take birth in the womb of Mata Devki in the house of Ratanchand Lohano of Nasarpur". Ratanchand Lohano was a Hindu belonging to Lohana caste.
All the Sindhis were relieved and rejoiced at this akashvani. Later, Dariyalal (Jhulelal) was born as announced to the named couple, who taught a lesson to Mirkshah & his Muslim Followers and saved the Hindus from Mirkshah & his Muslim followers. Henceforth, Sindhis worshipped Jhulelal as their Ishta deva. They started observing forty days fast with full faith and devotion known as Chaliho Sahib. Those who observe this fast have to follow the forgiven obligations: not to sleep in a bed, only on the floor, observe Brahmacharya, not to eat fried eatables, non-vegetarian food, onion & garlic, white items like milk, curd, rice, not to shave or cut hair and nails, not to use soap and oils, wear simple clothes and not to wear leather shoes or leather belts, not to use tadka in any dish, etc. living a purely simple life. On the last day, they perform pujas offering an earthen pot to the Darriya River. They offer akho [raw rice sugar flowers] to Darriya. Sindhis keep this fast avoiding non-veg, even garlic and onions. They perform the puja of Bahrono Saheb[what language is this?]
The 40-day-long festival is observed every year in months of July to August, dates vary according to Hindu calendar.[1][2] This is a thanks-giving celebration in honor of Varuna Deva and Jhulelal for listening to their prayers.[1][2]
To keep this tradition alive, all Hindu Sindhi, even today, celebrate the event by keeping forty days of penance.
The observe following rules for forty days:[1][3]
While some people fast only on the first and last day of Chalio, others fast for the first nine days or for 21 days.[2] Sindhi men & women dance in front of idol of Jhulelal in their temples to the tune of their folk music and bhajan, the devotional songs. Sindhis make a symbolic representation of their God Jhulelal in each and every household of theirs, which is known as Bahrana Sahib.
Baharana Sahib consists of Jyot, sugar candy, phota, fruits, clove and akho. Behind is an earthen pot with a coconut in it, covered with cloth, flowers, leaves and Idol of God Jhulelal.[4][3] A sweet dish named akho, made from rice and sugar is offered during morning prayers.[5] For forty days they worship it and offer prasad and sing aarti to Bahrana Sahib. On the 41st day Baharana Sahib is taken to nearby river or lake and immersed among singing and dancing of devotional songs,[2] marking the end of Chalio festival.
