History of Sindh

Indus valley civilization and Sindh in particular was the cradle of world civilizations. The name Sindh is derived from river Sindhu which is also called Indus. Our ancient civilization began here. It is a confirmed fact that Navigation started on the Indus river around 6OOO years ago. We must feel proud of the fact that we originate from such an ancient and cultured province with a recognized civilization of 5OOO years. There was a Sindhi version of the Mahabharata in 3OO B.C during the Buddhist era of Sindh. Vasdeva the Kusha king at that time ordered the listing of all Sindhi literary works in 346 A.D . But today there is no trace of these writings But the definite assertion of the existence about these books proves that two thousand years ago, Sindhi was already a written language.

Quite a few went to countries outside India. Today’s statics :In Sindh, there are 7O% Sindhis,17% in India and 13% overseas.

Hinglaj Devi: A Historical Look at Hingol

Hinglaj Devi, also known as Hingula Mata, is one of the most sacred and ancient manifestations of Goddess Shakti. Her shrine is located deep within a rocky cave in the rugged terrain of the Hingol region, surrounded by desolate mountains and the flowing Hingol River. The temple holds immense spiritual and cultural significance for millions of devotees, especially from the Sindhi Hindu community.

According to Hindu mythology, Hinglaj is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas—holy places where parts of Goddess Sati's body fell after the cosmic dance of grief by Lord Shiva. It is believed that the head or forehead of the goddess fell at this sacred site, making it one of the most powerful centers of Shakti worship. For centuries, devotees have revered Hinglaj Mata as the mother who protects, heals, and grants divine blessings.

The journey to Hinglaj is more than just a pilgrimage—it is a spiritual transformation. Pilgrims chant “Jai Mata Di” and “Bolo Hinglaj Mata Ki Jai” as they make their way through the hot and dusty trails that lead to the cave shrine. Historically, this path was walked barefoot through deserts and mountains, symbolizing devotion and endurance. Even today, during the annual Hinglaj Yatra, thousands gather to seek the blessings of the goddess, keeping alive a tradition that spans generations.

Hingol, the surrounding region, adds to the mystique of the shrine. The Hingol River flows beside the temple, and the area is known for its dramatic landscapes, including towering rock formations and desert plains. The famous “Princess of Hope” formation stands nearby, a natural sculpture created by wind and time.

The site is also a remarkable example of communal harmony. Local communities have long respected and protected the shrine, often referring to it as the “Nani Mandir.” The devotion of these communities, regardless of religious background, highlights the universal appeal of the goddess as a symbol of motherhood and divine strength.

For Sindhi Hindus, Hinglaj Mata is not just a deity but a cultural identity. Even after migration to distant lands, they continue to worship her, building temples and organizing yatras in her name. Hinglaj remains a timeless beacon of faith, courage, and spiritual unity, echoing the voice of the divine in the heart of the desert.

Sadhu Bela Temple, Sindh

Sadhu Bela is a temple on an island right in the midst of the Indus river in Sukkar. The view of the hills nearby is fantastic. Sadhu Bela means : A saint in a jungle. It was established in 1823 by a mystic Baba bankhandi. It is spread over 9 acres Community feast :Langar: Free food for all: is a regular feature along with other daily religious ceremonies. Every year on the Urs of the Baba, thousands converge on this holy place to pay respects to him. Very recently, Sadhu Bela was affected by floods. But like Moen Jo Daro, there is a total apathy of the local government as well as local people.

Brief History of Refugees who migrated to India

Gandhidham - Kutch

Soon after the partition of India in 1947, many Sindhi Hindus migrated to India. Bhai Pratap Dial Das, a Bhaiband, freedom fighter born in Hyderabad, Sindh, who was also a close associate of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, played an important role. He tried for a piece of land for the refugees. He was asked to approach the Maharaja of Kutch, Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Sir Vijayaraji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur for the same. The Maharaja was kind enough and very gracefully allotted 15OOO acres to the Sindhis for resettlement. What a noble gesture ! The entire project was handed over to Bhai Pratap to develop a self sufficient city with roads and infrastructure, etc. etc. The place was full of poisonous creatures like snakes and scorpions and was totally unsuitable for human habitation. Though 15000 acres was allotted only 2600 acres were given due to some Government guidelines. The remaining area was earmarked for Kandla Port. 

This city was planned by a world renown Italian architect, but executed by Indian engineers and architects. In due course housing projects, educational institutes and hospitals etc were built. The city is now called GANDHIDHAM, which was built out of scratch, with sheer hard work and unity of the Sindhi brethren.

Meantime, the Sindhis have spread to all parts of the world. They are all prospering and very happy. Only saddest thing is: The use of Sindhi language is declining and it needs to be encouraged for its usage amongst the Sindhi families.

Our language

Before the standardization of Sindhi orthography, numerous forms of the Devanagari and Lunda (Laṇḍā) scripts were used for trading, universally by all Sindhis. For literary and religious purposes, a modified form of Persian alphabet known as Ab-ul-Hassan Sindhi and Gurmukhi (a subset of Laṇḍā) were used. Another two scripts, the Khudabadi alphabet and Shikarpuri were attempts to reform the Landa script. During British rule in the late 19th century, an Arabic-based orthography was decreed standard, after much controversy, as the Devanagari script had also been considered. However, this script has since become accepted.

Arabic script

During British rule in India, a variant of the Persian alphabet was adopted for Sindhi in the 19th century. The script is used in Pakistan today. It has a total of 52 letters, augmenting the Persian with digraphs and eighteen new letters (ڄ ٺ ٽ ٿ ڀ ٻ ڙ ڍ ڊ ڏ ڌ ڇ ڃ ڦ ڻ ڱ ڳ ڪ) for sounds particular to Sindhi and other Indo-Aryan languages. Some letters that are distinguished in Arabic or Persian are homophones in Sindhi.

Devanagari script

In India, the Devanagari script is also used to write Sindhi. A modern version was introduced by the Government of India in 1948; however, it did not gain full acceptance, so both the Sindhi-Arabic and Devanagari scripts are used. In India a person may write a Sindhi language paper for a Civil Services Examination in either script . Diacritical bars below the letter are used to mark implosive consonants, and dots called nukta are used to form other additional consonants.

In addition to a stock of native words inherited from Sanskrit, Sindhi has borrowed numerous words of Arabic and Persian origin. In addition, Sindhi has borrowed from English and Urdu. Today, Sindhi in Pakistan is heavily influenced by Urdu, with more borrowed Perso-Arabic elements, while Sindhi in India is influenced by Hindi, with more borrowed tatsam Sanskrit elements.

            *List Of Sindhi Festivals *

01

Cheti Chand

Celebration of the birth of God of Water  ( Varun Devta ) Sai Uderolal, popularly known as Shri JHULElLAL. So much has been said and written about it that it would be superfluous to repeat. In Sindh the beginning of the New Year was considered Cheti Chand. Some businessmen open new account books; (many however, do that on the eve of Diwali also). On the New Moon day, people  go to a river or lake and offer ‘Akho’ with a pinch of rice mixed with milk and flour. If there was no river or ‘Darya’, the ritual is performed at a well. 

02

Sagra (Sacred thread)

Sindhi Bhaibands often lived in foreign countries; therefore, their wives were always worried about the good health of their husbands. For this purpose they performed pooja and fasted on four Mondays of Sawan month, after which they perform pooja, distribute sweet rice and then had the sacred thread tied on the wrist by the priest ( Bandhan ).

03

Mahalakshmi's Sacred Thread (Mahalakshmi-a-jo-Sagro)

This sacred thread has 16 stings and 16 knots . On the day, the sacred thread is to be untied, it is celebrated as an important day and special savouries like satpura and pakwan of Suji & Maida are made and distributed. They are offered first  to the priest/brahmin and the poor and afterwards the remaining savouries are used by family members.

04

Fasts

In Sindhis, generally Mondays & Saturdays, Giyaras or Umaas were observed as fasts (vrats). During the fast of Satyanarayan and nine days of Ekaanaas, only one time meal is generally taken.

05

Teejri

This festival takes place in the month of Sawan when married women and girls paint their hands and feet with Mehndi, go on fast for the whole day, during which they play games, swing in Jhulas and sing lovely songs. Orthodox / strict Sindhi women do not even drink a sip of water until they break their fast. In the night after making an offering to the moon, they break the fast.

06

Akhan Teej

It is also called Akshaya Tritiya. It is a very great day to do charity. On this day new earthen pots of water(matkas) are kept and everyone is offered clean and cool water. The significance of this day was to offer water to the thirsty. Hence at every nook and corner, sharbat, is offered to passersby along with ‘prasad’ . On this day, it is also customary to send new earthen pots and fruits etc to priests/temples.

07

Ann-Matyo

In the month of Sawan, on the Bach-Baaras of Krishna Paksha, cereals are changed in food, i.e. instead of wheat and rice, chapatis made of gram flour (Besan) are eaten.

08

Ban Badhri

During the month of ‘Badho’, during the Baaras of Shukla Paksha, God Vaaman had taken avtaar . In lieu of that small insects like ants etc. were fed Gur (jaggery) and Musti . Married daughters are invited by their parents for meals.

09

Somavati Umaas

During certain months Umaas takes place on a Monday. That day is considered important for having a “dumb dip’ in the waters; without talking to anyone early in the morning. It is also, called ‘Gungee Umaas” .

10

Nandhi and Vadi Thadri

Both of these take place in the month of Sawan . On the day before Thadree day, people cook lola (sweet flour cakes) and rote (fried cakes) because there has to be no lighting of fire in the house on the Thadree day. The lolas and Rotes are eaten with curd or pickle. On that day drops of water are also sprinkled on the cooking fire to appease Sitladevi Mata.

11

Sri Janamashtami, Sri Rama Navami and Shivratri

Since Krishna was born after midnight, on Janamashtami, bhajans and kirtan are held in temples till midnight. On Ram Navami, Lord Rama’s birthday is celebrated. On Shivratri people drink ‘Thaadhal’ with some ‘bhang’ in it, after making offering of it in the Mahadev temple. In the villages and cities, big pots of ‘Taahri’ (sweet rice) are prepared and distributed among all.

12

Tirmoori

On this festive day parents send ladoos & chiki ( Laaee ) made of Til (sesamum seed) to their married daughters. On the Makar Sankrant day the sun moves from South to North. It is therefore also called ‘Utraan’ or ‘Tirmoori’ . In Mahabharat battle Bhisham Pitamah did not breathe his last till ‘ Utraan’ since on this day there happens flush of light in Dev Lok .

13

Dussehra

Few days before Dussehra there used to be Ramlila program which was attended by throngs of people. On the Dussehra day colorful effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath are burnt to denote destruction of the evil.

14

Diyaaree

Two days before Deepavali, Sindhis start lighting Diyaas (earthen lamps) from ‘Dhan Teras’ . The bazaars are full with prospective consumers. Friends and relatives meet one another with affection and extend pleasantries and sweetmeats. In the night, Laxmi Pooja takes place when all the members of the family pray with reverence and respect. In the night, people  take in their hands a stick to which a rag dipped in oil was tied which was burnt. It is called ‘Mollawaro’ ; everyone shout ‘Mollawaro….. Mollawaro’….

15

The Giyaras of Kati

Before partition, on this day people in Sindh used to be engaged in giving charity. The whole bazaar would be full with hundreds of beggars and the needy, who would spread a cloth before them, on which people, according to their mite, would offer money, Bhugra, fruits etc. The jugglers used to arrange their Tamashas on the road with monkeys and bears dancing on the tunes played by the jugglers. An atmosphere of gaiety and gay prevailed all through the day.

16

Navratra

During this days devotees of Devi eat one meal a day and do not even shave/cut hair. Ladies sing bhajans . In Nagarparkar they used to dance like Garba in Gujrat.

17

Lal Loi

It is celebrated on the 13th of January every year. During Lal Loi kids  bring wood sticks from their grand parents and aunties and light a fire camp, burnt these sticks in the night with people enjoying, dancing and playing around fire. Some ladies whose wishes were fulfilled offered coconuts in the fire and distributed prasad ‘Sesa’ ; this continues till midnight.

18

Rakhri

During the Purnima of Sawan month sisters tie a Rakhi to their brothers. This day is called “Rakhri Bandhan’. Even the near cousin sisters tie Rakhis on cousin brothers . Sisters come from far off places and towns specially to tie Rakhis to their brothers. There is so much affection and love. Those cities and places where there were rivers or sea, people  offer coconuts and milk to the God of Water,  ‘Varun Devta so that those who were traveling in ships and boats should have a safe and sound journey.

19

Shraadh

The month of September ‘Bado’ is meant for Krishna Paksha as Pitar Pakhiya. Any member of the family who had died on particular (tithi) day and date, a Shraadh was offered for the solace of the deceased’s soul. The Brahmins are fed and given Dakshina. It is said that Arya Samaj carried out a strong movement against Shraadh, but the Shraadhs continued because of the faith of people since they felt that through this method the deceased members of the family are remembered and all the family members have a good gathering.

20

Nagapanchmi (Gogro)

It is the Panchami in Shravan month. Also called Gogro. On this day pre-cooked food (cooked on the previous day) like lolo, tikki etc is consumed as in case of Thhadri. It is in respect of the Snake God.

21

Holi

The festival of colours in which all the young and old join together to express their joy at the change of season. Some people correlate Holi festival with Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashyap, mythological father of Bhagat Prahlad.

🍛 Sindhi Cuisine & Food Culture

Sindhi cuisine is rich, diverse, and full of cultural significance. Many dishes are associated with festivals, life events, and seasonal customs, offering both taste and tradition.

🥗 Special Occasion Dishes

• Chiti-Kuni: A special vegetable dish made from seven vegetables, traditionally cooked on Diwali.

• Mitho Lolo: A sweet griddle-roasted flatbread made with wheat flour, ghee, sugar syrup, and cardamom; offered upon recovery from illness like Chicken Pox.

• Sai Bhaji ain Chawar: Spinach curry served with steamed rice, topped with fried onion, tomato, and garlic.

• Daal Pakwan: Crisp pakwan served with spiced chana dal, popular among Sindhi Hindus.

• Koki: A hearty wheat flatbread enjoyed with dal, sabzi, curd, or tea.

• Seyun (Vermicelli): Sweet milk-based dessert served on Thadri, Cheti Chand, and festive occasions.

🍲 Sindhi Main Dishes

• Sindhi Kadhi: A thick spicy curry made with chickpea flour and vegetables, typically served with rice during festivals.

• Sindhi Pulhao Bhat: Mildly spiced rice dish, made with mutton, chicken, potatoes, or chickpeas.

• Taryal Patata (Took Aloo): Thin sliced potatoes fried with spices, eaten with rice and dal.

• Pallo Machi: Hilsha fish cooked or fried with spices; often includes fish roe (“aani”).

• Machi Palli: Fish cooked with chickpea greens (palli), a traditional delicacy.

• Bheeh Bhaji: Clay-pot cooked lotus root with spices, a beloved Sindhi specialty.

• Sabu Dal Chawar: Yellow lentils served with rice.

• Sai Bhaji: A nutritious lentil-spinach curry.

• Singhrian jo Raabro: Sour curry from Tharparkar, made with dried vegetables (Singhri).

🍮 Sindhi Desserts & Sweets

• Mitho Lolo with Matho: Sweet flatbread paired with spiced buttermilk.

• Kheer Kharkoon: Dates and milk dessert, eaten hot in winter and cold in summer.

• Khorak / Churo: Dry fruit snack for bride & groom before marriage.

• Khirni: Pudding made with milk and rice, flavored with cardamom and saffron, dry fruit.

• Busri: Layered sweet bread with jaggery powder and desi ghee.

• Ugham Halwo: Halwa made with ugham seeds, nuts, and ghee – a Dadu district delicacy.

• Sindhi Halwo: Corn flour-based dessert with a jelly-like texture.

• Mao: Milk condensed to thick paste, served with nuts (famous in Mehar city).

• Tairee Bhat: Jaggery rice with raisins and coconut.

• Borindo & Lai: Round and flat sweets made from jaggery, sesame, and nuts.

• Kutti: Crushed paratha with sugar, butter, and dry fruits.

• Chulho: Sweet bread with ghee and sugar topping.

• Gheeyar: Large jalebi-like sweet eaten during festivals like Holi.

• Ghotki ja Pera: Cone-shaped sweet from Ghotki city.

• Other Sweets: Sero, Rabri, Atay ju Saiyun, Singhar, Kariyio Tikio, etc.

🥤 Drinks

• Thadal: Cool drink made with dry fruits, poppy seeds, and spices — popular among wrestlers.

• Sharbat: Made from rose petals or sandalwood.

• Falooda: Vermicelli dessert served with ice cream/Kulfi.

• Lassi: Traditional yogurt-based drink.

🍘 Snacks & Savories

• Pappad: Crispy flat snack made of dal with spices.

• Khicha: Rice flour variant of papad, milder and eaten with chutney.

• Pakora Varieties: Patatai (potato), Mirchai (chili), Bheeh (lotus root), and more.

• Buri / Boorani: Snack made from flower pollen.

• Pabura: Seeds from lotus flower.

• Phariyun: Boiled winter pods flavored with spices.

• Gajar: Spiced sweet potatoes.

• Baisan ju Tikyun: Flatbread-like snack made with chickpea flour and herbs.