The Bahraano Sahib Ritual Performance of Jhule Lal in Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper addresses the performance and perspective of Bahraano Sahib Ritual at Jhule lal. Bahraano Sahib is a vernacular and main central ritual of the Sindhi Hindus at the Jhule Lal complex in Sindh, Hyderabad which is almost performed on every new Sindhi month of the moon sighting Nao Chand, Cheti Chand and Jat Jo Melo (annual fair), which has also an essential role for the remembrance as well as the celebration of the Jhule Lal by the Hindus in Sindh at the Jhule Lal complex. The twelve Bahraanas are celebrated annually at the Juhle Lal complex. This ritual shows the aesthetic relationship of the disciples with Jhule Lal. The Bahraano Sahib ritual was started as an Indus Cult (Darya Panth). Therefore, offering the Bahraano Sahib is a way to feed the species that live in the Indus water. Nowadays, Jhule Lal’s devotees bring the Bahraano Sahib from different parts of Sindh on the Cheti Chand to offer Jhule Lal and immerse into the Balanbo Sahib (well). The Bahraano Sahib is the central and prominent Ritual practice of the Sindhi religious culture because it makes the necessary memories and attachment of the Jhule Lal between India and Pakistan (Boivin and Rajpal 2018).