After some balle balle, I will take you to a tour of a very mild and rarely heard religion, the Sindhis. Sindhis are spread all over the world, but they prefer making money then news. A religion with people of devoted determination and time-savy is Sindhis for you.

Among the prominent Sindhis in the world are the Hindhuja Brothers, Ramesh Sippy – Director of ‘Sholay’, old cine artists like Asrani, Babita, Sadhana, and L. K. Advani.

Although, there are few in number compared to other religions, they are still well known and respected all round the globe. Like others they also have their own festivals. Here, I am going talk about one of their festivals.

One of the big festivals they celebrate is ‘Veer Pasali’. This festival is celebrated before the festival of Rakhi. The word ‘Veer’ means brother and ‘Pasali’ is promise. It is a fast kept for the long, healthy and prosperous life of the brother. Veer Pasali is a very sweet way of bonding with the brothers.

The day starts in a usual manner. While bathing the sister takes promise from the goddess that she will protect her brother from all the evils. One can have tea or coffee or milk in the morning. Also fruits and fruit juices can be had. The food shall be eaten only after the pooja. It is in the afternoon that the pooja is done. A lamp is lit for the brother in a round shaped bowl made with wheat flour. Also, animals like snakes and lion are made out of the wheat flour. These handmade animals with some grass are placed in a plate and kumkum is sprinkled upon it.

The pooja starts by tying a yellow thread on the wrist. Then a story is told with the moral that ‘A sister’s love can always protect her brother from danger’. While the story is been told, grains of rice at regular intervals are put into a vessel filled with water. After completing the story, a prayer is done for the well being of the brother and then food is had. The place where food is eaten, there itself the lamp is lit. The girl is not supposed to get up till the lamp extinguishes. The food is had sitting on the floor.

Later than the lamp puts out, the handmade animals are picked up from the plate and all are mixed into a small round. This round ball of animals is beaten by a belan 3-4 times keeping on the doorstep. This means the sister kills the enemies of the brother. Next, this round ball is divided into four pieces and thrown in four different corners of the road to void danger of the brother.

The whole procedure of the pooja itself is so meaningful. Each and every bit has its own significance.
Before a married life of a girl, she shares a close bond with her brother. Though they fight but the love amid them is immense. It is the brother who supports and protects the sister from problems and sometimes from parents also!
A very special bond exists between the two, which makes the festival of Rakhi an extraordinary, and loving one.
Best buddies, your confidant and of all your guiding soul is a brother.