Mumbai: An innocuous lilting welcome for Chhath Puja festival blew up into big political controversy, with Bhojpuri songs blaring over public announcement systems at several Mumbai railway stations, triggering a fresh Marathi Manoos versus non-Marathis confrontation.
Grabbing the opportunity, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies accused the Railways of misusing public infrastructure with some leaders alleging that the move was a musical prelude to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The row erupted on Wednesday, coinciding with Maharashtra’s Bhau Beej celebrations, when social media videos surfaced showing Bhojpuri songs and devotional numbers belted out over the public address (PA) systems at several
(CR) stations, junctions and major terminals. The unusual soundtrack quickly raised eyebrows and reignited the politically sensitive debate over Marathi pride and the perceived promotion of North Indian culture in Maharashtra.
The four-day Chhath Puja festivities, beginning November 13, are dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya and are celebrated with great devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, besides Bihari migrants across India and overseas.
Veteran retired journalist Shrikishore Shahi, who hails from Bihar, saw a political subtext in the exercise, describing it as an attempt to keep eastern Uttar Pradesh’s electorate in good humour ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Rakesh Upadhyaya, a pharmaceutical manufacturer from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, argued that eastern UP enjoys special political significance, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha seat (Varanasi) and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Assembly constituency (Gorakhpur). He implied that “this musical outreach could be an attempt to woo voters in those regions”.
Political Criticism
However, the CR initiative, reportedly under the Railway Board’s directive, drew flak from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti (MES). Their common grouse: “If Bhojpuri songs can be played at Mumbai stations for Chhath, why is comparable recognition not extended to Maharashtra’s festivals and regional cultural traditions?”
MNS leaders and local activists protested against the loud music, alleging that Bhojpuri numbers were being played at several stations, including Wadala, Sanpada, Kalyan, Dombivli and Ambivli, leaving commuters baffled. Similar complaints about the use of railway PA systems have also surfaced from other railway zones catering to the massive Chhath-bound passenger rush.
SS (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut sharpened the political attack, accusing the ruling dispensation of attempting to import the UP-model of politics into Maharashtra.
“Nobody has any objections to celebrating Chhath Puja, but Mumbai railway stations are meant for public announcements, not songs. Why should the railway announcement system be used for this? Also, why songs are not played during Diwali, Eid, Christmas or other festivals. Do not bring UP election politics to Mumbai,” dared Raut.
MNS leader Raju Patil questioned why Marathi songs celebrating Bhau Beej were not relayed at Maharashtra’s railway stations when Bhojpuri songs were being broadcast for Chhath Puja, and demanded this must be stopped within an hour.
BMC Leader of Opposition (ex-Mayor) of SS (UBT) Kishori Pednekar quizzed the apparent lack of cultural parity, asking “whether Marathi songs were similarly played at railway stations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during Maharashtra’s festivals”.
MES President Govardhan Deshmukh slammed the railway administration, seeking to know who authorised the exercise and whether such selective treatment could provoke unnecessary social tensions.
SS (UBT) Ward No. 178 Corporator Madhuri Manjrekar lodged a formal complaint with CR over the loud music at Wadala station, citing noise pollution and inconvenience to commuters.
Railway’s Defence
Defending the initiative, CR Chief Spokesperson Swapnil Nila said railway stations routinely broadcast thematic messages, jingles and awareness campaigns during special occasions.“At junctions like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, special trains are being operated for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival and so songs are being played. However, care is taken to ensure that the songs are played only during the extra time without disturbing announcements critical to passengers,” Nila told mediapersons.
The spokesperson insisted such songs and messages were played only during the time available beyond that required for essential passenger announcements.
The issue has also sparked a debate over whether similar recognition should be given to Maharashtra’s festivals and regional cultural traditions at Railway stations.
In a huge logistics exercise, the CR is operating around 400 dedicated special services, in addition to regular trains, while other railway zones in different parts of India are collectively running more than 1,000 additional services to Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP. These services connect Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other departure points with major destinations including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Mau, Patna, Prayagraj, Ranchi and Asansol.
