Jhulelal is the Isht Devata or the revered deity of the Sindhi Hindus of India and Pakistan. He is considered as the incarnation of Lord of Water, Varun Deva. Jhulelal Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Jhulelal. It is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha or the bright half of the Hindu Lunisolar month of Chaitra. The birth name of Jhulelal was Uday Chand. He was named Jhulelal or the God of swing, as, after his birth, his cradle was seen swinging on its own.
Significance of Jhulelal Jayanti
Jhulelal Jayanti is a very significant festival of the Sindhis as this is the birth anniversary of their patron saint Jhulelal. Jhulelal is the incarnation of Varun Dev according to the Sindhi community. It is also the Sindhi New Year called Cheti Chand. Sindhis start their new ventures on this day as they consider it to be the most auspicious day in their calendar. Sindhis perform a puja for forty continuous days called Chalia Saheb, which ends on the day of Cheti Chand.
This is the day to say thanks to the Varun Dev for incarnating as Jhulelal to save the Hindus and the Sindhis from the tyranny of the ruler who wanted to convert them into Islam and destroy the Sindhi culture and Hinduism. Jhulelal is considered to have performed many miracles. His life is centred around Indus River in Pakistan’s Sindh state. The main Shrine of Jhulelal also called as Odero Lal is in the Sindh called as the Shrine of Odero Lal.
Story of Jhulelal
Jhulelal was born in Nasirpur in the house of father Rattanchand and mother Devaki. He showed his divine form to his father at the time of his birth. He opened his mouth to show river Indus flowing inside his mouth with an old man sitting on a Palla fish.
It is believed that once Sindhis were ordered to convert into Islam by the tyrant ruler named Mirkhshah. All the Sindhis were scared and prayed at the banks of river Sindh and saw Varun Dev in the river, who told them that He would soon incarnate as an infant in Nasirpur. This was informed to the Mirkhshah too. When the child was born, he sent his minister Ahirio to kill the infant by a poisonous rose petal. When Ahirio reached there and saw the infant, he found him smiling and his petal flew away from his possession. Again when he looked at the infant he saw that the infant had grown into an old man, the old man then changed into a young man and then he turned into a warrior on the back of a horse. Ahirio was startled and reached back to Mirkhshah to tell about what he saw. He was scolded by Mirkhshah and was ordered to call Jhulelal at the banks of Sindh River.
Ahirio reached the Sindh River with his army and saw Jhulelal coming out of the Sindh River on his horse as a warrior and his army coming out of the river. This terrified Ahirio and his army. He pleaded with Jhulelal to spare his army and his pleading was accepted by Jhulelal. Jhulelal's army disappeared in the Sindh River in front of the eyes of Ahirio. He went back and briefed Mirkhshah who ridiculed him. He then called Jhulelal to his court.
Jhulelal told the Sindhi community to gather at the banks of Sindh. Suddenly, the palaces of Mirkhshah were engulfed by the flames of fire. Mirkhshah escaped and went to the banks of Sindh and fell on the feet of Jhulelal and begged for his mercy. Jhulelal dismissed the firestorm with the wave of his hand. It is believed that after saving the Sindhis from Mirkhshah, he got disappeared into the earth. His temple was built at that spot which is known as the Shrine of Odero Lal in state of Sindh in Pakistan.
Celebrations on Jhulelal Jayanti
Sindhis start celebrating Jhulelal Jayanti forty days earlier as Chalio Saheb. They visit temples of Jhulelal continuously for forty days and pray to Jhulelal. On the day of Chet Chand, they keep the fast and sing songs in praise of Jhulelal. In the evening they complete their fast and join festivities. This is the time to showcase the Sindhi culture. Many cultural events like singing, dancing and other aspects of Sindhi culture are presented in various programmes. People visit nearby rivers to say thanks to Jhulelal from saving them from tyrant Mirkhshah. They keep on chanting the slogan:
‘Jeko chawundo Jhulelal Tehnija Theenda Bera Paar’ which means whosoever says Jhulelal, his boat sailing through troubled waters will reach the shore safely or will find all his desires fulfilled.
Translate