When is Sindhi Festival Thadri 2018? Date, History & Food Sindhi Community Prepare
The word ‘Thadri’ means ‘cold’ in Sindhi language and is dedicated to Goddess Shitala Devi.
Every culture is recognised and known by its enriching festivals, rituals and traditions. Sindhi is a community residing primarily in India and Pakistan and the popular Sindhi festival is called Thadri. The festival falls in the month of Shravan and coincides every year with Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary known as Krishna Janmashtami. This year Janmashtami and Thadri both will be celebrated on September 2. The word ‘Thadri’ means ‘cold’ in Sindhi language and is dedicated to Goddess Shitala Devi. Below we discuss about the food and rituals Sindhi community follow on this auspicious occasion. When is Janmashtami 2018? Date, Tithi, Puja Muhurat Vidhi & Fasting Rules to Observe on Gokulashtami, the Birth of Lord Krishna.
Story of Thadri
Thadri is celebrated to worship the Goddess Shitala Devi, known as the goddess of small-pox. Earlier days and even today when children get chicken pox it used to be considered that they have ‘Mata’ which means that Devi Mata is upset with them. People used to consider it as Mata’s anger. Hence, cold food (thado) used to be prepared and people used to pray to her. Shitala goddess is worshipped by Sindhis. She is the eldest of several sisters, named after different kinds of diseases such as measles, etc. The annual festival is observed in honour of the goddess and hence it is also called the cooling festival. Janmashtami 2018 Wishes: Best WhatsApp Messages, GIF Images, Facebook Status & SMS to Send Gokulashtami Greetings on Lord Krishna’s Birthday!
Food on Thadri
While the auspicious festival is celebrated eight days post Raksha Bandhan, the preparations begin a day in advance. Sindhi women prepare special food a day before the festival because on Thadri people do not burn the gas or chulha. Delicacies including koki (type of sindhi paratha), lola (sweet paratha), Yello Dal ka Phulka (paratha stuffed with yellow dal) and dry cooked dishes such as fried potato, bhindi and karela are prepared a night before and then prayers are offered in front of the gas stove. The lolas and kokis are eaten with curd or pickle. Once the prayers are done, a few drops of water are sprinkled on the main stove to appease Shitala Devi Mata. And on the main day, neither the stove is lit, nor any meal is cooked. Lola is mandatory to prepare on Thadri.
With growing times, not many people follow all the rules and traditions and have tweaked the process a bit. But over sentiments attached to the festival are still the same. Like any other festival, Thadri is important for Sindhis just like Teej which is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 02, 2018 02:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).