Chalio

Part of a series on

Hinduism

* Hindus
* History
* Timeline

Origins

* Hindu synthesis (500/200 BCE-300 CE)

* History
* Indus Valley Civilisation
* Historical Vedic religion
* Dravidian folk religion
* Śramaṇa
* Tribal religions in India

Traditions

Major traditions

* Shaivism
* Shaktism
* Smartism
* Vaishnavism

List

Deities

Trimurti

* Brahma
* Vishnu
* Shiva

Tridevi

* Saraswati
* Lakshmi
* Parvati

Other major Devas / Devis

Vedic:

* Agni
* Ashvins
* Chandra
* Indra
* Prajapati
* Pushan
* Rudra
* Surya
* Ushas
* Varuna
* Vayu

Post-Vedic:

* Dattatreya
* Durga
* Ganesha
* Hanuman
* Kali
* Kartikeya
* Krishna
* Kubera
* Radha
* Rama
* Shakti
* Sita
* Vishvakarma

Concepts

Worldview

* Cosmology
* Mythology
* Puranic chronology

Ontology

* Tattvas
* Subtle elements
* Panchikarana
* Gross elements
* Guṇas

Supreme reality

* Brahman
* Nirguna
* Saguna
* Om
* Satcitananda

God

* Ishvara
* God in Hinduism
* God and gender

Meaning of life

* Dharma
* Artha
* Kama
* Moksha

Stages of life

* Brahmacarya
* Grihastha
* Vanaprastha
* Sannyasa

Three paths to liberation

* Bhakti yoga
* Jnana yoga
* Karma yoga

Liberation

Mokṣa-related topics:

* Paramātman
* Maya
* Karma
* Saṃsāra

Mind

* Ātman (self)
* Anātman (non-self)
* Sūkṣma śarīra (subtle body)
* Antaḥkaraṇa (mental organs)

* Prajña (wisdom)
* Ānanda (happiness)
* Viveka (discernment)
* Vairagya (dispassion)
* Sama (equanimity)
* Dama (temperance)
* Uparati (self-settledness)
* Titiksha (forbearance)
* Shraddha (faith)
* Samadhana (concentration)
* Arishadvargas (six enemies)
* Ahamkara (attachment)

Ethics

* Niti śastra
* Yamas
* Niyama
* Ahimsa
* Achourya
* Aparigraha
* Brahmacarya
* Satya
* Damah
* Dayā
* Akrodha
* Arjava
* Santosha
* Tapas
* Svādhyāya
* Shaucha
* Mitahara
* Dāna
* Sources of dharma

Epistemology

* Pratyakṣa (perception)
* Anumāṇa (inference)
* Upamāṇa (comparison, analogy)
* Arthāpatti (postulation, presumption)
* Anupalabdi (non-perception, negation)
* Śabda (word, testimony)

Practices

Worship, sacrifice, and charity

* Puja
* Ārtī
* Prarthana
* Śrauta
* Temple
* Murti
* Bhakti
* Japa
* Bhajana
* Kīrtana
* Yajna
* Homa
* Tarpana
* Vrata
* Prāyaścitta
* Tirtha
* Yatra
* Tirthadana
* Matha
* Nritta-Nritya
* Dāna
* Seva

Meditation

* Tāpas
* Dhyāna
* Samādhāna
* Nididhyāsana

Yoga

* Sadhu
* Yogi
* Yogini
* Asana
* Sadhana
* Hatha yoga
* Jnana yoga
* Bhakti yoga
* Karma yoga
* Raja yoga
* Kundalini Yoga

Arts

* Bharatanatyam
* Kathak
* Kathakali
* Kuchipudi
* Manipuri
* Mohiniyattam
* Odissi
* Sattriya
* Bhagavata Mela
* Yakshagana
* Dandiya Raas
* Carnatic music
* Pandav Lila
* Kalaripayattu
* Silambam
* Adimurai

Rites of passage

* Garbhadhana
* Pumsavana
* Simantonayana
* Jatakarma
* Namakarana
* Nishkramana
* Annaprashana
* Chudakarana
* Karnavedha
* Vidyarambha
* Upanayana
* Keshanta
* Ritushuddhi
* Samavartana
* Vivaha
* Antyeshti

Festivals

* Diwali
* Holi
* Shivaratri
* Navaratri
* Durga Puja
* Ramlila
* Vijayadashami-Dussehra
* Raksha Bandhan
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Vasant Panchami
* Rama Navami
* Janmashtami
* Onam
* Makar Sankranti
* Kumbha Mela
* Pongal
* Ugadi
* Vaisakhi
* Bihu
* Puthandu
* Vishu
* Ratha Yatra

Philosophical schools

Six Astika schools

* Samkhya
* Yoga
* Nyaya
* Vaisheshika
* Mimamsa
* Vedanta
* Advaita
* Dvaita
* Vishishtadvaita
* Achintya Bheda Abheda
* Shuddhadvaita
* Dvaitadvaita
* Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

Other schools

* Saiva
* Kapalika
* Pasupata
* Pratyabhijña
* Vaishnava
* Pancharatra
* Charvaka

Gurus, sants, philosophers

Ancient

* Agastya
* Angiras
* Aruni
* Ashtavakra
* Atri
* Bharadwaja
* Gotama
* Jaimini
* Jamadagni
* Kanada
* Kapila
* Kashyapa
* Patanjali
* Pāṇini
* Prashastapada
* Raikva
* Satyakama Jabala
* Valmiki
* Vashistha
* Vishvamitra
* Vyasa
* Yajnavalkya

Medieval

* Abhinavagupta
* Adi Shankara
* Akka Mahadevi
* Allama Prabhu
* Alvars
* Basava
* Chaitanya
* Ramdas Kathiababa
* Chakradhara
* Chāngadeva
* Dadu Dayal
* Eknath
* Gangesha Upadhyaya
* Santadas Kathiababa
* Gaudapada
* Gorakshanatha
* Haridasa Thakur
* Harivansh
* Jagannatha Dasa
* Jayanta Bhatta
* Jayatīrtha
* Jiva Goswami
* Jñāneśvara
* Kabir
* Kanaka Dasa
* Kumārila Bhaṭṭa
* Madhusūdana
* Madhva
* Matsyendranatha
* Morya Gosavi
* Mukundarāja
* Namadeva
* Narahari Tirtha
* Nrusinha Saraswatī
* Nayanars
* Nimbarkacharya
* Prabhākara
* Purandara Dasa
* Raghavendra Swami
* Raghunatha Siromani
* Raghuttama Tirtha
* Ram Charan
* Ramananda
* Ramanuja
* Ramprasad Sen
* Ravidas
* Rupa Goswami
* Samarth Ramdas
* Sankardev
* Satyanatha Tirtha
* Siddheshwar
* Sripada Srivallabha
* Sripadaraja
* Surdas
* Swaminarayan
* Śyāma Śastri
* Tukaram
* Tulsidas
* Tyagaraja
* Vācaspati Miśra
* Vadiraja Tirtha
* Vallabha
* Valluvar
* Vedanta Desika
* Vidyaranya
* Vyasaraja

Modern

* Aurobindo
* Bhaktivinoda Thakur
* Chinmayananda
* Dayananda Saraswati
* Jaggi Vasudev
* Krishnananda Saraswati
* Mahavatar Babaji
* Mahesh Yogi
* Narayana Guru
* Nigamananda
* Nisargadatta Maharaj
* Prabhupada
* Radhakrishnan
* R. D. Ranade
* Ramakrishna
* Ramana Maharshi
* Sai Baba
* Sarasvati
* Satyadhyana Tirtha
* Siddharameshwar Maharaj
* Sivananda
* Swami Rama Tirtha
* Swami Ramdas
* Swami Samarth
* Swami Shraddhanand
* Tibbetibaba
* Trailanga
* U. G. Krishnamurti
* Upasni Maharaj
* Vivekananda
* Yogananda

Texts

Sources and classification of scripture

* Śruti
* Smṛti
* Ācāra
* Ātmatuṣṭi

Scriptures

* Timeline of Hindu texts

Vedas

* Rigveda
* Yajurveda
* Samaveda
* Atharvaveda

Divisions

* Samhita
* Brahmana
* Aranyaka
* Upanishad

Upanishads

Rigveda:

* Aitareya
* Kaushitaki

Yajurveda:

* Brihadaranyaka
* Isha
* Taittiriya
* Katha
* Shvetashvatara
* Maitri

Samaveda:

* Chandogya
* Kena

Atharvaveda:

* Mundaka
* Mandukya
* Prashna

Vedangas

* Shiksha
* Chandas
* Vyakarana
* Nirukta
* Kalpa
* Jyotisha

Other scriptures

* Bhagavad Gita
* Agamas (Hinduism)

Other texts

Puranas

* Vishnu Purana
* Bhagavata Purana
* Devi Bhagavata Purana
* Nāradeya Purana
* Vāmana Purana
* Matsya Purana
* Garuda Purana
* Brahma Purana
* Brahmānda Purana
* Brahma Vaivarta Purana
* Bhavishya Purana
* Padma Purana
* Agni Purana
* Shiva Purana
* Linga Purana
* Kūrma Purana
* Skanda Purana
* Varaha Purana
* Mārkandeya Purana

Itihasas

* Ramayana
* Mahabharata

Upavedas

* Ayurveda
* Dhanurveda
* Gandharvaveda
* Sthapatyaveda

Shastras, sutras, and samhitas

* Dharma Shastra
* Artha Śastra
* Shilpa Shastra
* Kamasutra
* Brahma Sutras
* Samkhya Sutras
* Mimamsa Sutras
* Nyāya Sūtras
* Vaiśeṣika Sūtra
* Yoga Sutras
* Pramana Sutras
* Charaka Samhita
* Sushruta Samhita
* Natya Shastra
* Panchatantra
* Divya Prabandha
* Tirumurai
* Ramcharitmanas
* Yoga Vasistha
* Swara yoga
* Panchadasi

Stotras and stutis

* Kanakadhāra Stotram
* Shiva Stuti
* Vayu Stuti

Tamil literature

* Tirumurai
* Divya Prabandham
* Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai
* Thiruppugal
* Tirukkural
* Kamba Ramayanam
* Five Great Epics
* Eighteen Greater Texts
* Eighteen Lesser Texts
* Aathichoodi
* Iraiyanar Akapporul
* Abhirami Anthadhi
* Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
* Vinayagar Agaval

Society

Varna

Four varnas:

* Brahmana
* Kshatriya
* Vaishya
* Shudra

Varna-less:

* Dalit

Varna-related topics:

* Jati

Other society-related topics:

* Discrimination
* Persecution
* Nationalism
* Hindutva
* Organisations
* Reform movements

Other topics

Hinduism by country

* Balinese Hinduism

* Caribbean Shaktism

Hindu culture

* Architecture
* Calendar
* Iconography
* Mythology
* Pilgrimage sites

Hinduism and other religions

* Jainism and Hinduism / and Buddhism / and Sikhism / and Judaism / and Christianity / and Islam

Criticism

* Glossary
* Outline

* Hinduism portal

* v
* t
* e

Chalio/Chaliho also called Chaliho Sahib is a forty-day-long festival celebrated by Sindhi Hindu community.[1][2][3]

## History[edit]

Mirkshah, a Muslim ruler of Sindh ordered all Hindus to forcibly convert to Islam or face persecution. The Hindu representatives then requested a forty day grace period from the ruler for their reply.[1] During this period of time, the frightened Hindus of Sindh prayed to their river God Varuna to help them.

For forty days, the Hindus underwent penance. They neither shaved nor wore new clothes, praying, fasting and singing songs in the praise of Varuna. They beseeched him to save them from the hands of their persecutor.[1]

On the 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 that belonged to the Lohana caste.

The Sindhis were relieved and rejoiced at this Akashvani. Shortly after, the couple announced birth of Dariyalal (Jhulelal), who later taught a lesson to Mirkshah and his Muslim Followers, absolving the Hindus.

Henceforth, Sindhis worshipped Jhulelal as their Ishta deva. They started to observe forty days of fasting with full faith and devotion known as Chaliho Sahib. Those who observed this fast had to follow the following obligations:

* Not to sleep in a bed, only on the floor

* Observe Brahmacharya

* Not to eat fried eatables, non-vegetarian food, onion and 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.

## Festival[edit]

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.

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 and women dance in front of the 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, 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, offering prasad and sing aarti to Bahrana Sahib. On the 41st day Baharana Sahib is taken to a nearby river or lake and immersed among singing and dancing of devotional songs,[2] marking the festival's end.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Chaliho festival Archived February 18, 2013, at archive.today
2. ^ a b c d e Sindhis celebrate Chalio festival
3. ^ a b Sindhi Festivals > Chaliho Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ "Cheti Chand | Sindhi Festivals | Chaliho Sahab | Baharana Sahib | Festivals". Festivalsofindia.in. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
5. ^ "Chaliho, Chaliho Festival, Festival of Chaliho in India". Mywebastrologer.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-08-26.

* v
* t
* e

Festivals in the Hindu calendar

Major festivals|

* Ayudha Puja
* Chhath
* Diwali
* Durga Puja
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Holi
* Krishna Janmashtami
* Maha Shivaratri
* Navaratri
* Rama Navami
* Thaipusam
* Vijayadashami

Harvest festivals|

* Bhogi
* Bihu
* Lohri
* Maghi
* Maghe Sankranti
* Makar Sankranti
* Makaravilakku
* Onam
* Pongal
* Pusnâ
* Shakrain

New year's days|

* Balipratipada
* Bohag Bihu
* Bisu Parba
* Chaitra Navaratri
* Cheti Chand
* Gudi Padwa
* Mesha Sankranti
* Mha Puja
* Jur Sital
* Navreh
* Nyepi
* Pana Sankranti
* Pahela Baishakh
* Puthandu
* Sajibu Nongma Panba
* Sankranti
* Ugadi
* Vaisakhi
* Vishu

Other festivals|

* Aadi Perukku
* Bhaubeej
* Datta Jayanti
* Dhanteras
* Gaura Parva
* Gowri Habba
* Hanuman Jayanti
* Kali Puja
* Karthika Deepam
* Karva Chauth
* Kashmiri Hindu festivals
* Lakshmi Puja
* Kumbh Mela
* Mahalakshmi Vrata
* Mahamaham
* Panguni Uthiram
* Pargat Diwas
* Raksha Bandhan
* Ratha-Yatra
* Savitri Vrata
* Teej
* Tulasi Vivaha

Holy days|

* Akshaya Tritiya
* Amalaka Ekadashi
* Amavasya
* Ananta Chaturdashi
* Ashadhi Ekadashi
* Guru Purnima
* Kamada Ekadashi
* Kartik Purnima
* Naga Panchami
* Naraka Chaturdashi
* Narali Purnima
* Nirjala Ekadashi
* Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
* Prabodhini Ekadashi
* Pradosha
* Rishi Panchami
* Sankashti Chaturthi
* Sharad Purnima
* Shayani Ekadashi
* Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
* Vaikuntha Ekadashi
* Varuthini Ekadashi
* Vasant Panchami
* Vat Purnima

Balinese festivals|

* Galungan
* Nyepi

Holy periods|

* Chaturmasya
* Pitru Paksha
* Uttarayana
* Dakshinayana

* Hindu festivals

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template