Sindhis observe a 40-day fast in devotion to Lord Jhulelal during which festival?

Chaliha Sahib is a festival of the Sindhi community, in which devotees observe a fast and prayers for 40 days in devotion to Lord Jhulelal, their patron deity. The word "Chaliha" comes from "chalis", meaning forty. The festival is usually observed in July-August.

According to Sindhi tradition, in the 10th century, a cruel ruler of Sindh named Mirkhshah ordered the Hindus of the region to convert to Islam or face death. The frightened Hindus went to the banks of the river Indus (Sindhu) and prayed to the river god (Varuna) for 40 days, fasting and doing penance. At the end of the 40 days, a divine voice told them that the god would be born as a child to protect them. Soon after, a child named Udero Lal was born in the town of Nasarpur. He grew up to be Jhulelal, who convinced the ruler to stop the persecution and to respect all religions. Jhulelal is regarded as an incarnation of the water god and is often shown seated on a lotus or a fish (palla) on the river, with a long white beard.

During Chaliha Sahib, devotees avoid certain foods, do not cut their hair or shave, wear simple clothes, and pray to Jhulelal every morning and evening. They offer prayers at the river or at the temples of Jhulelal. At the end of the 40 days, they celebrate with prayers, community meals and the immersion of a pot (matki) in a river or the sea, as a thanksgiving.

Other Sindhi festivals include:

• Cheti Chand, the Sindhi New Year and the birthday of Jhulelal, in the month of Chaitra.
• Thadri, when people eat food cooked on the previous day.
• Lal Loi, the Sindhi winter bonfire festival, similar to Lohri.
• Tirmoori, the Sindhi celebration of Makar Sankranti.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Cheti Chand is the Sindhi New Year and Jhulelal's birthday, not the 40-day fast.
• ✗Thadri is a Sindhi festival of eating cold food cooked the previous day.
• ✗Lal Loi is the Sindhi bonfire festival in winter.