Springtime - Four Eerily Linked Festivals
What Lent, Cheti Chand, Ramadan and Vesak have in common
The early beginnings of summertime, especially in Asia and the Middle East, are marked by a period of discipline and struggle, for about 40 days, before the blossoming of new hope, life, and renewal. This is a period observed by many people of different faiths with great reverence, fasts, and traditions. But at the end of the day, each of these communities experiences and achieves the same aim, with the same goal, of the same teachings, taught. In this essay, I will uncover the divine repetitions between the four festivals (Cheti Chand, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Vesak) celebrated at this time in 3 parts:
1. The repetition of the number 40 2. The recurrence of the number 3 3. Shared themes between these festivals
Some of the festivals during this time of the year are: Persian Nowruz, Cheti Chand, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Gudi Padwa, and Chehelom, to name a few.
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Many of these festivals are categorized by the repetition of the number '40'. Here's how this number appears in the various stories and traditions:
Cheti Chand, celebrated by the Sindhi community in India and Pakistan, marks the beginning of the Sindhi New Year. It usually falls in late March or early April, and is celebrated on the second day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.
The 40-day period is known as Chaliho, and is observed by many Sindhis as a period of purification and penance, who even hold daily meditations. At the end of this 40-day period, a ceremony called Chaliho Sahib is held, which marks the end of the of penance and the beginning of the celebrations for Cheti Chand, a new year
Lent is an intense season of repentance and reflections about mortality and Jesus’ divinity - a Savior that was born not just for a group of people, but to redeem the whole world.
The mention of the number 40 is not limited to just the Lenten fast or the Lord’s days in the desert but also, the 40 days and nights of rain that caused the Great Flood in the story of Noah's Ark, the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert after leaving Egypt, and the 40 days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God.
For Ramadan, this period lasts for 29 or 30 days, which is approximately 4 weeks, and hence sometimes called 40 days. It is also believed that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran from the angel Gabriel when he was 40 years old.
Persia (modern-day Iran) also has a tradition of observing a 40-day period of mourning and self-reflection known as "Chehelom". This is observed by Shi'a Muslims in Iran to mark the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Vesak is a major Buddhist holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. 40 is often used to represent a significant period of time for spiritual practice or achievement. It is said that Buddha meditated for 40 days under the Bodhi tree before attaining enlightenment. Buddhist scripture also has a teaching known as the "40 Stages of the Path" which outlines the journey to enlightenment.
It is an old traditional thought, that it takes 40 days for the human soul to be reborn or to move on to the afterlife after death. Hence explaining this period of new life.
Each of these celebrations in its own way has a very unique and recurring relationship with the number 3. This number signifies balance, unity, and completion.
In Cheti Chand:
It is a 3 day festival that falls on the first day of the Chaitra month. The first day is called Cheti Chand, the second day is called Udero Lal, and the third day is called Akhand Jyot.
While seemingly obvious, members of the community seek blessings for 3 aspects: health, wealth, and wisdom.
Many Sindhis honor 3 Sufi saints during Cheti Chand - Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, and Hazrat Jhulelal.
The traditional attire worn during this time comprises 3 main colors - red, yellow, and green, symbolizing love, knowledge, and prosperity respectively.
In Lent:
The main days of this season are called the Paschal/Holy/Easter Triduum (Latin: Triduum Paschale) and are made up of 3 days - Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
The Holy Trinity is the Christian belief in the Triune God - 3 persons in one - God the Father, the Son (Lord Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
During Christ’s 40 days in the desert, Satan tempted Jesus 3 times, offering, him the 3 worldly pleasures of power, fame, and glory.
There were 3 crosses at the Crucifixion at Calvary.
In Ramadan:
There are 3 types of fasting - the physical fast, the fast of the heart, and the fast of the tongue.
Ramadan is divided into 3 parts, each consisting of ten days with the themes of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation respectively.
Muslims pray five times a day, but there are 3 special times of prayer that are observed during the month, known as Taraweeh.
It is said that the Prophet Muhammad broke his fast with 3 dates and water. The celebration of Eid al-Fitr, usually lasts for 3 days too.
In Vesak:
During Vesak, Buddhists pay homage to the 3 Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings), and the Sangha (the community of his followers.)
It is also a period of reflection on the 3 Worlds - the world of desire, the world of form, and the formless world.
It is also based around the Threefold Training refers to the training in morality, concentration, and wisdom
Vesak is a summary of the Triple Lotus which in Buddhism, represents purity, enlightenment, and rebirth.
In a world filled with diverse cultures and traditions, there are four sacred observances that share an eerie similarity… they are Cheti Chand, Lent, Ramadan, and Vesak.
Despite their different origins and practices, they all had one common lesson - the importance of self-reflection and spiritual growth.
In the land of Sindh, Cheti Chand was celebrated by the Sindhi community in honor of Lord Jhulelal, a savior that was born to them, which marked the beginning of the Hindu New Year and symbolized the victory of good over evil. Just like in Lent, where Christ, the Savior was crucified and then resurrected - a victory of life over death, and good over evil.
During this period members of all the communities and religions aforementioned, fast, self-reflection, give alms performing acts of charity, and spend time in meditation and prayer. Repentance, penance, purification, forgiveness, and ultimately the triumph of God and His mercy and love, reign supreme.
These themes are focused on spiritual growth and are aimed at cultivating awareness and compassion and represented the path to liberation from suffering. They all, in their own way, talk about breaking free from materialistic desires and focusing on spiritual well-being. They all sought to remind people of the importance of leaving behind the old and embracing the new, of the life to come.
At this time, truly welcoming the new year, the faithful read their holy texts and reflected on their teachings, seeking to purify their souls, and break free from their materialistic desires, to focus on their spiritual life. They looked within themselves to cultivate divine awareness and compassion towards others.
As seasons change and time marches on, these observances continue to remind people of the importance of self-reflection and spiritual growth. They all come at springtime, the beginning of new life, and they all bring people together in their shared search for spiritual enlightenment.
Nowruz Mubarak // Cheti Chand Ju Lakh Lakh Vadhaiyun // Happy Feast of the Ressurection of the Lord // Eid Mubarak // Happy Vesak day!
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Let me know what you think about these observations, please feel free to add more detail and insights into these festivals, I enjoy hearing from you! Lots of love, Shevaun.