The vibrant Sindhi community of Vadodara once again embraced their rich cultural heritage with a grand ten-day celebration of New Sindhi Year ‘Cheti Chand’
Sindh Courier Report
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
The vibrant Sindhi community of Vadodara once again embraced their rich cultural heritage with a grand ten-day celebration of New Sindhi Year ‘Cheti Chand’, commemorating the birth anniversary of Lord Udero Lal. This year’s festivities were marked by a series of engaging events that fostered community spirit and showcased traditional music, dance, and culinary delights, culminating in a splendid celebration on March 30.
The celebration of Cheti Chand in Vadodara city of Gujarat state of India has always been a vibrant and meaningful community event! Like every year, this year too, with activities spread across ten days, it brought together a significant number of Sindhis for cultural festivities, prayers, and social gatherings. Here’s a brief overview of the highlights:
The 10-day celebration concluded on Sunday March 30, with grand Sargas (Procession), engaging around 5000 participants from Vadodara and nearby cities, who enjoyed dancing to Sindhi songs and distributing Prasad along the route. Grand Sargas, which started at 5pm from Prem Prakash Dharam Tirth and passed through various parts of Sant Kanwar Nagar, concluded at 10pm.
Overview of Events
Festival Kickoff
The celebrations commenced on March 21 with the screening of the highly anticipated Sindhi film Vardan-3 at a local cinema, drawing a dedicated audience eager to immerse themselves in cultural narratives. This film was screened daily throughout the festival, setting the tone for the celebratory events to follow.
Alkapuri Sindhi Association Function
On March 22, the Alkapuri Sindhi Association held a festive gathering at the Ridhi Sidhi Party Plot, welcoming approximately 350 attendees. The event featured traditional Sindhi festivities, showing the community’s deep roots and commitment to cultural preservation.
Cultural Program
Mr. Haresh Agnani shared some details of the celebration, according to which Sindhi Kanwar Kala Kendra along with Gujarat Sindhi Sahitiya Academy, Gandhinagar organized Sindhi Cultural Program containing dances on various Sindhi songs on March 23. Approximately 250 Sindhis attended the program. Function was followed by Prasadi of Ragda Pettis and Pav.
Bike Rally
On Monday morning March 24, a bike rally of over 1000 bikes was organized by Sant Kanwar Nagar Vepari Sangathan. The main organizers were Mahesh Chhutani and Rajesh Balwani. Rally was attended by all Sindhi Mandirs of Vadodara.
Bike rally started from Sant Satramdas Mandir and covered Prem Prakash Dharam Tirth, Shani Dev Mandir, Swami Lilashah Dharamshala, Sindh Cooperative Credit Society, Faqir ki Jhopdi-Baba Parsram Darbar, Old Jhulelal Temple, B Block, New Jhulelal Mandir, Sant Kanwar Nagar Warasia, Lahripura Jhulelal Temple, Jhulelal Temple, Sawad Colony, Sant Mata Mayadevi Darbar etc.
Behrana Sahib Program
On the same day, Varun Seva Trust organized a program of 1111 Behranas (First Time in Vadodara). Sant Sain Lal das (Chakarbhata), Sant Sain Jagdish Lal (Amdavad), Shehrawala Sain, Charan Sain, and Mukesh Sain were present in the program. Approximately 3000 Sindhis attended the function.
In 1111 Behrana Sahib program all dignitaries of Vadodara City including Mr. Govind Bhai Thakur Saree, Mr. Roopchand Vaswani, Shyam Theli Bhandar, Advocate Anita Amrani, Mr. Haresh Banyan Paradise and others were present.
Blood Donation Camp
In a heartwarming display of community service, the Lahripura Sindhi Vyapari Parivar organized a blood donation camp on March 27 at the Jhulelal Temple. Under the aegis of Sain Manishlal of Bharuch Jhulelal Temple, this 26th-year initiative successfully collected 1,003 units of blood, emphasizing the community’s dedication to humanitarian causes.
Sant Mata Mayadevi Darbar Celebration
The following day, March 28, Sant Mata Mayadevi Darbar hosted a program at Shagun Banquet Hall, where approximately 400 Sindhis enjoyed engaging performances by the Deepak Music Party and dancers from the Stylo Dance Academy. Following the entertainment, a delicious dinner was served to all attendees.
Committee Bagh Sindhi Morning Walkers Group Event
On March 29, the Committee Bagh Sindhi Morning Walkers Group orchestrated a lively program from 7 AM to 10 AM outside the garden on the main road with permission from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and traffic police. Approximately 2,000 participants danced to DJ Sindhi songs, enjoying a delightful breakfast featuring local delicacies such as Dal Pakwan, Sindhi Pakoda, samosas, and fruits. This event was organized by community stalwarts Mr. Raju Ladla, Mr. Govindbhai Thakur Saree, and others.
Grand Function at Prem Prakash Dharam Tirth
Later that same day, a grand function unfolded at Prem Prakash Dharam Tirth, where renowned Sindhi singers Mr. Pintu Soni and Mr. Jayesh Amarnani performed a variety of cultural and devotional songs. This poignant gathering attracted approximately 15,000 devotees, fostering a spirit of togetherness. The event culminated at midnight with a cake-cutting ceremony and a fireworks display, heralding the beginning of the new Sindhi year.
Waghodia Road Sindhi Panchayat Celebration
The climax of the festivities fell on March 30, when the Waghodia Road Sindhi Panchayat organized a celebratory program from 10 AM to 3 PM at Indrapuri Atithi Gruh. Under the guidance of Mr. G V Moorjani, Mr. Assan Parwani, and Mr. Haresh Artwani, roughly 1,000 Sindhis gathered to partake in traditional dances to Sindhi and Hindi songs, enjoying a communal Bhandara that celebrated the spirit of sharing and fellowship.
Conclusion of Celebrations
As the colorful celebrations came to a close late in the night, March 30, the joyous atmosphere lingered, leaving the community enriched by the cultural exchanges, the sense of unity, and the deep-rooted traditions that define the Sindhi identity.
Community Reflection
This year’s Cheti Chand celebration in Vadodara not only commemorated the birth of Lord Udero Lal but also strengthened the bonds among Sindhis both locally and globally. From heartwarming acts of service to lively cultural gatherings filled with music and dance, the ten-day festival reflected an unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting Sindhi heritage.
The participation of thousands in these events underscores the resilience and vibrancy of the Sindhi community in Vadodara, reflecting their love for culture, devotion, and community welfare. As they look forward to next year’s celebrations, the memories of this vibrant festival will surely resonate in the hearts of all who took part.
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