Patna: As the Chhath festival begins, the state capital hums with the melodies of devotional songs, filling every street and corner with an unmistakable festive spirit. Iconic songs like “kela ke patwa pe”, “kaanch hi bans”, and “pehliye pehel hum kaile” have become staples in almost every home, echoing soon after Diwali to usher in the season of devotion.
For the Bihar diaspora, settled far and wide, these songs are more than music. They are lie emotional link to home. They evoke memories of gathering by riverbanks, performing the evening and morning ‘arghya’ rituals and the warmth of ancestral homes. “My mornings begin with Chhath songs sung by Sharda Sinhaji,” saya Varsha Maheshwari, who has been living in Gurugram for over a year. “Chhath songs hold a unique feeling — there is nostalgia in every note. Listening to them transports me back to Patna, to the Chhath celebrations of my hometown, the grand family gatherings and the heartfelt devotion of the rituals,” she adds.
Rajeev Nagar resident Aditi Mishra, now working in Noida, echoes this sentiment. “For people of Bihar, no other songs can match Chhath songs. The melody, the lyrics, each note is a reflection of our culture. We grew up with these songs and every word is etched in our memories,” says Aditi.
Even in Patna, the tunes fill the air as residents play Chhath songs from dawn till dusk, amplifying the festival’s sacredness. Abha Rani, a city resident, says, “Chhath without Chhath songs? Impossible. They go hand in hand. There is a song for every ritual, whether it’s ‘nahay-khay,’ ‘kharna,’ or ‘arghya.’ Each one narrates the details of our customs, bringing alive the rituals through music.”