Chet- The Month of Devotion

Chet, the first month of the North Indian calendar represents the welcoming warmth of Spring. A time filled with life and zest for the agricultural communities of Punjab. With the passing of the cold winter month, Chet is a welcoming time that brings warmth and happiness to the people. The month usually correlates with the Gregorian month of March and early April. In this blog, let’s explore the significance of Chet to Sikhs. We’ll look at the importance of the month from a Gurbani point of view, and how we should live our lives as per the teaching of the Sikh Gurus.  

Spiritual and Cultural Significance of Chet 

The month of Chet represents the resetting of a cyclical movement of time. Being a new month in a new year, it is seen as a fresh start and a new beginning. This is the period filled with self reflection, growth, and farm work. The month brings a welcome change and creates new hopes and dreams. In the Winter months, agricultural crops remained dormant in the cold and people stayed indoors. The coming of Chet observes the sprouting of new life from the soil, an important occasion for farmers and a community that depends on agriculture (Soofi, M. 2014). The maturing of important crops such as wheat, barley and mustard also happens during this month. From a metaphysical and spiritual perspective, the month represents the cyclical world-view, tied with notions such as death and rebirth. In the same way that the Earth travels around the Sun in predictable cycles, or the end of night and the first-light of a new day, the observable facet of existence has been incorporated into the spiritual belief and reality of ancient and modern Indians. 

Chet in Gurbani

In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the revered 11th Guru, there exists two poetic compositions titled Barah Maha Maajh, and Barah Maha Tukhari. These are Gurbani written in a poetic genre that describes the 12 months of the Indian Calendar. The first of these two compositions to appear within the Guru Granth Sahib ji is the Maajh composition written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Master. The Tukhari version was written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Uthanka or backstory to the Barah Maha of Guru Nanak was said to have originated with Baba Buddha Ji who requested Guru Nanak to give the Sikhs spiritual teachings in the form of a monthly prayer. This was done so that the Sikhs can stop going to the Brahmins for monthly spiritual teachings (Sikhi Parchar Worldwide, 2023). The second Barah Maha of Guru Arjan Dev ji was said to have originated from the plea of the Sikhs to Guru Arjan Dev ji that the prayer composed by Guru Nanak was too difficult to understand, that if Guru Arjan Dev ji could compose one more accessible in everyday language (Sikhiwiki, 2025). 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 1107, Barah Maha Tukhari 

ਚੇਤੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਭਲਾ ਭਵਰ ਸੁਹਾਵੜੇ ॥

In the month of Chet, the lovely spring has come, and the bumble bees hum with joy.

ਬਨ ਫੂਲੇ ਮੰਝ ਬਾਰਿ ਮੈ ਪਿਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਬਾਹੁੜੈ ॥

The forest is blossoming in front of my door; if only my Beloved would return to my home!

ਪਿਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਨਹੀ ਆਵੈ ਧਨ ਕਿਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਬਿਰਹਿ ਬਿਰੋਧ ਤਨੁ ਛੀਜੈ ॥

If her Husband Lord does not return home, how can the soul-bride find peace? Her body is wasting away with the sorrow of separation.

ਕੋਕਿਲ ਅੰਬਿ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਬੋਲੈ ਕਿਉ ਦੁਖੁ ਅੰਕਿ ਸਹੀਜੈ ॥

The beautiful song-bird sings, perched on the mango tree; but how can I endure the pain in the depths of my being? 

ਭਵਰੁ ਭਵੰਤਾ ਫੂਲੀ ਡਾਲੀ ਕਿਉ ਜੀਵਾ ਮਰੁ ਮਾਏ ॥

The bumble bee is buzzing around the flowering branches; but how can I survive? I am dying, O my mother!

ਨਾਨਕ ਚੇਤਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਜੇ ਹਰਿ ਵਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਧਨ ਪਾਏ ॥੫॥

O Nanak, in Chet, peace is easily obtained, if the soul-bride obtains the Lord as her Husband, within the home of her own heart. ||5||

Within the Barah Mahas composed, the Gurus expressed the beauty of life symbolised by the month of Chet, but more importantly, they also give spiritual advice for each month. Within the month of Chet, Guru Nanak reminds the Sikhs of the importance of self-realization. The spiritual month of Chet becomes effective only when one realizes the Divine within, thus pulling down the veil that conceals the divine from the mind. The notion of soul-brides symbolizes the idea of spiritual union between the individual self, and the collective existence of the Oangkar that transcends everything. 

Sources

https://www.dawn.com/news/1100605  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjaouqM0m48 

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bara_Maha#Bara_Maha_Manjh