Chhath songs played at Mumbai stations, drawing objections; all eyes on MNS stand

Chhath Puja will be celebrated across the country after Diwali, and it is held at several places in Mumbai too. However, the Bombay High Court has refused permission to hold a Chhath Puja programme at Girgaum Chowpatty. The court also declined to order that another site be provided for the puja in place of Girgaum Chowpatty.

After the court's refusal, Chhath Puja songs have now been played directly at railway stations in Mumbai. At several stations on the Harbour line, including Wadala and Nerul, the songs were played loudly today with the announcements stopped. The Swayatta Maharashtra Sangharsh Samiti objected to this in a Facebook post. Some other organisations have also objected, and the matter is being widely discussed on social media.

When station management was asked, it said the instruction to play such songs every day until Chhath Puja had come from above. Station announcements are meant to inform passengers about train arrivals and departures, timetables, platform changes and emergencies. On Wednesday, however, the regular passenger announcements at Wadala station were stopped and Chhath Puja songs were played loudly in their place. Some passengers have also posted about it on Facebook. The same happened at Nerul station.

Earlier, on Bhaubeej, Bhojpuri songs were played at Central Railway's Ambivli station. The playing of Bhojpuri songs on a Marathi festival went viral on social media. Questions were raised about why Bhojpuri songs were being pushed on a Maharashtrian festival instead of Marathi songs. Marathi speakers are voicing their anger, saying: "Have you taken Maharashtra and placed it in Bihar-UP?"

In Badlapur too, there has been opposition to holding Chhath Puja on the Ulhas river. For this reason, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is now expected to step into the matter. That is why all eyes are on the MNS stand.