The Chhath Puja Homecoming: How Electoral Timing Creates a Dilemma for Bihar's Diaspora

As the sun descends below the horizon, casting its final golden rays, a wave of anticipation sweeps through Bihar. Chhath Puja represents more than just a festival; it serves as an annual pilgrimage, a homecoming for millions in the Bihari diaspora dispersed worldwide. This vibrant, predominantly working-class community finds comfort in Chhath's rituals, where tradition intertwines with yearning and devotion.

From Mumbai's bustling streets to Surat's factories, approximately 75 lakh Biharis (according to 2011 Census, with unofficial estimates reaching two crore, half potentially being voters) who toil relentlessly across various sectors share one common aspiration: to return home and honor the Sun God.

Celebrated with unwavering fervor, this year's festival begins with Nahay Khay on October 25, when families purify themselves in the holy Ganges and other Bihar rivers, often in ponds and various water bodies. They prepare offerings, followed by Kharna fasting on the 26th. The celebrations culminate in evening and dawn rituals: Sandhya Arghya on the 27th and Usha Arghya on the 28th, when communities gather to express gratitude, seek blessings, and strengthen their cultural bonds.

It's a magnificent sight to witness hundreds of thousands of women dressed in colorful sarees and salwar kurtas, and men in dhotis, praying to the Sun God with raised palms. Their hands hold wicker baskets filled with fruits, thekua, pirukia, and other delicacies as prasad. The incense from dhupkatthis fills the air with sweet fragrance.

For these migrants, Chhath symbolizes more than religious observance; it embodies their connection to home, bridging the gap of distance. Yet this year, as Chhath approaches, the shadow of Bihar assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11 adds a bittersweet note to their celebrations. With electoral dates falling more than a week (first phase) and a fortnight (second phase) after the festival, many diaspora members face the heartbreaking reality of missing their chance to vote.

Voting isn't merely a civic duty for working-class Biharis; it represents a profound expression of their identity and agency. Historically, their voting turnout significantly exceeds that of the middle class. This high participation among blue-collar workers reflects a community that understands the weight of their political choices. Political parties often leverage this engagement, offering material incentives to influence votes, recognizing that these individuals carry their families' and neighborhoods' hopes.

However, migration logistics make their electoral participation increasingly precarious. Employers in various global cities often show little sympathy regarding extended absences, especially during peak working seasons. Thus, the Bihari diaspora finds itself torn between labor demands and the pull of home, where family ties and cultural identity beckon them to return for Chhath.

Previously, the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which the EC claimed necessary for updating electoral rolls but the Opposition alleged would exclude genuine voters—particularly working classes, Dalits, minorities, Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and other disadvantaged sections—was conducted very close to the polls. This prompted the 16-day Voter Adhikar Rally by Congress's Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav. The Opposition claimed SIR led to deletion of lakhs of voters from the rolls, directly affecting workers, many being diaspora members.

As diaspora members navigate through crowded trains and buses with hearts full of anticipation, an irony weighs heavily on their minds. While yearning to celebrate their cherished festival, they feel disconnected from their home state's political landscape. The joy of Chhath reunion is tainted by a sense of disenfranchisement, or simply being unable to vote at home, as many will return to distant jobs far from once-familiar voting booths.

This year, the diaspora's homecoming poignantly reminds them of ties binding them to Bihar—an unbreakable thread woven through shared memories, rituals, and aspirations. As they gather at Ganga's banks or in modest homes, surrounded by the aroma of thekua and sugarcane offerings, they reaffirm their Bihari identity. Yet, the reality of missed ballots lingers like a shadow, reminding them of sacrifices made pursuing better lives. Even if the EC claims limited choice regarding dates (requiring a month after election declaration), critics argue better advance planning was possible. Cultural sensitivity remains essential for good governance.

In balancing tradition and modernity, the Bihari diaspora embodies resilience. Their Chhath Puja celebration testifies to their unwavering connection to home, even as they navigate the complexities of absence during a crucial electoral moment. As the sun rises over the festival, illuminating those who've journeyed from afar, it also highlights the silent struggle of a community deeply rooted in its values despite the changing world around them.

Thus, as the festival unfolds, it becomes a poignant celebration of unity, love, and the enduring spirit of people who, despite distance, carry Bihar within them—a beacon of hope and belonging in a fiercely competitive world that often feels unwelcoming, sometimes cruel, sometimes complicated by managerial ineptitude.