Chhath Puja, the festival of the Sun God celebrated by lakhs of people from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand living in Mumbai, has become the centre of a political row. The MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress have raised objections to Chhath celebrations on Mumbai’s beaches and riverbanks, citing pollution, and the MNS has demanded that devotees use artificial ponds instead. A separate dispute has broken out over Bhojpuri Chhath songs being played at Mumbai railway stations.
The ruling BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena have accused the opposition of creating a Marathi vs non-Marathi divide, while Raj and Aaditya Thackeray say the BJP is stoking the row ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election 2027. In this Election Guru explainer we cover the festival, what each side said, the court restriction at Girgaon Chowpatty, the railway songs row, and why North Indian voters matter in Mumbai and UP politics.
Chhath Puja Mumbai Row at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Issue 1 | Chhath celebrations on beaches and riverbanks vs artificial ponds |
| Issue 2 | Bhojpuri Chhath songs played at railway stations (e.g. Wadala) |
| Objecting parties | MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress (pollution concerns) |
| Defending side | BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) |
| Court angle | Restriction on Chhath celebrations at Girgaon Chowpatty over pollution |
| Railway stand | Announcements follow Railway Board instructions for North Indian passengers |
| Political link | UP Assembly election 2027 |
What Is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, celebrated six days after Diwali. Devotees, mostly women, fast without water and offer arghya (offerings) to the setting and rising sun while standing in rivers, ponds or the sea. It is the biggest festival for people from Bihar and Purvanchal (eastern UP), and in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, large gatherings take place at beaches, lakes and artificial ponds.
| Day | Ritual |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nahay Khay – bath and a pure meal |
| Day 2 | Kharna – day-long fast ending with prasad in the evening |
| Day 3 | Sandhya Arghya – offering to the setting sun |
| Day 4 | Usha Arghya – offering to the rising sun, end of fast |
MNS’s Objection: Ponds, Not Beaches
MNS leader Yashwant Killedar opposed holding Chhath Puja on Mumbai’s beaches such as Juhu. He pointed out that the BMC had set up artificial ponds for Ganesh idol immersion and asked why devotees could not use similar ponds for Chhath. He also alleged that the Bhojpuri songs at stations were meant to appeal to North Indian voters travelling to Uttar Pradesh to vote, saying the issue was “neither about Hinduism nor Hindutva but about electoral politics”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) on the Railway Songs
The Shiv Sena (UBT) lodged a complaint with railway authorities about Bhojpuri songs being played at Wadala station and warned of protests if the practice continued. It argued that high-volume songs inconvenience other passengers. MP Sanjay Raut said his party has no objection to Chhath itself, but added: “Uttar Pradesh’s electoral politics should not be brought to Maharashtra and Mumbai.”
Aaditya Thackeray accused the BJP of “manufacturing” the Chhath controversy, and Raj Thackeray alleged that the BJP was exploiting it to provoke a Marathi vs North Indian divide ahead of the UP elections.
BJP and Shinde Sena Hit Back
- BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) leaders accused the opposition of trying to create a Marathi vs non-Marathi divide
- They said people of all castes, religions and regions live together in Maharashtra
- Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey said Bal Thackeray had backed grand Chhath celebrations and accused his descendants of opposing Hindu festivals
- MoS Finance Ashish Jaiswal appealed for unity and focus on development
- MoS Home Pankaj Bhoyar said every community can celebrate its festivals without inconveniencing others, and that permission for artificial ponds would follow the law
Railway’s Explanation
The railway administration said loudspeaker announcements follow Railway Board instructions to help North Indian passengers travelling home during Chhath. It said songs are played intermittently along with travel information, mainly aimed at passengers heading to terminals like CSMT and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, where special trains to Bihar and UP depart.
Girgaon Chowpatty and the Court
There is an existing court restriction on Chhath celebrations at Girgaon Chowpatty over pollution concerns. Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court rejected a plea seeking permission to celebrate Chhath Puja at Girgaon Chowpatty. Environmental concerns about offerings, plastic and oil lamps on beaches have been raised in Mumbai for years, which is why civic bodies have been promoting artificial ponds for festivals.
North Indians in Mumbai: The Political Angle
People from UP and Bihar form a large share of Mumbai’s population and an important vote bank in several Mumbai constituencies. The MNS rose in 2008 partly through an aggressive campaign against North Indian migrants, which led to violence and arrests. Since then, the MNS and Shiv Sena have shifted positions at different times, while the BJP has built strong support among North Indian voters in Mumbai.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Raj Thackeray founds MNS |
| 2008 | MNS campaign against North Indian migrants; attacks on UP and Bihar candidates |
| 2009 | MNS wins 13 Assembly seats |
| 2026 | BMC election held; Chhath row ahead of UP 2027 |
Many Mumbai-based voters from UP travel home to vote. With the UP election due in early 2027, every party is keen to send the right message to these voters, which is why a festival issue has quickly become political.
Also Read: Yogi Adityanath’s UP Election 2027 Strategy Meeting and SIR Row
Chhath in Other Cities
| City | Typical Arrangements |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Hundreds of ghats along the Yamuna and artificial ponds; public holiday |
| Patna | Ganga ghats; biggest celebrations |
| Kolkata | Ghats along the Hooghly; restrictions at some lakes |
| Mumbai | Beaches like Juhu, lakes and artificial ponds |
Environmental Concerns at Mumbai’s Beaches
Mumbai’s beaches such as Juhu, Girgaon Chowpatty, Dadar and Versova see huge crowds during festivals like Ganeshotsav and Chhath. Environmental groups have raised concerns about plastic, flowers, oil lamps and other offerings left in the sea, as well as damage to marine life. In recent years, the BMC has built hundreds of artificial ponds for Ganesh idol immersion to reduce sea pollution. The demand to extend the same approach to Chhath has merit on environmental grounds, as long as it is applied fairly to all festivals and communities.
| Festival | Civic Arrangement in Mumbai |
|---|---|
| Ganeshotsav | Hundreds of artificial ponds; restrictions on PoP idols |
| Navratri / Durga Puja | Designated immersion points |
| Chhath Puja | Beaches, lakes and some artificial ponds; court restriction at Girgaon Chowpatty |
Why UP Elections Are Mentioned
Uttar Pradesh votes in early 2027, and a large number of Mumbai’s residents from eastern UP and Bihar are still registered voters in their home states. Parties use festivals and travel season to reach these voters, and the special trains during Chhath carry lakhs of people home. The MNS and Sena (UBT) allege the BJP is using the Chhath arrangements to woo these voters, while the BJP says the opposition is attacking North Indians’ faith. Either way, the row shows how closely Mumbai’s politics is linked to that of UP and Bihar.
Possible Solutions
- More artificial ponds near beaches and lakes, as done for Ganeshotsav
- Clear civic rules on offerings and waste, applied equally to all festivals
- Dialogue between community organisations, BMC and police before the festival
- Volume limits for announcements at stations, while keeping travel information
- Avoiding statements that pit communities against each other
Election Guru Analysis
The Chhath row shows how quickly culture and festivals become political in Mumbai, especially with an election in Uttar Pradesh around the corner. The environmental argument for artificial ponds has merit and has been applied to Ganesh festivals too. But the tone of the debate, and the railway songs dispute, risk reviving old Marathi vs North Indian tensions. A practical solution, such as more artificial ponds near beaches and clear civic rules applied to all festivals equally, would serve both devotees and the environment.
Chhath Puja Row in Mumbai 2026 FAQ
What is the Chhath Puja row in Mumbai about?
Opposition parties including the MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress raised pollution concerns about Chhath on beaches and demanded artificial ponds; a separate dispute is about Bhojpuri songs at railway stations.
What did the MNS demand?
MNS leader Yashwant Killedar asked why devotees could not use artificial ponds like those set up by the BMC for Ganesh immersion, instead of beaches like Juhu.
What did Sanjay Raut say?
He said his party has no objection to Chhath, but “Uttar Pradesh’s electoral politics should not be brought to Maharashtra and Mumbai.”
How did the BJP and Shinde Sena respond?
They accused the opposition of trying to create a Marathi vs non-Marathi divide and said all communities live together in Maharashtra.
Why are Bhojpuri songs being played at stations?
Railways said announcements follow Railway Board instructions to help North Indian passengers travelling home for Chhath.
Is Chhath allowed at Girgaon Chowpatty?
There is a court restriction on Chhath celebrations at Girgaon Chowpatty over pollution, and the Bombay High Court recently rejected a plea to allow it.
What is Chhath Puja?
A four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, mainly celebrated by people from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP.