Delhi politicians in rush to celebrate Chhath

 The wooing of the Delhi Biharis has been on for the last three years but it is all the more intense this year because the Chhath festival has fallen on the eve of the Assembly elections.

 There is no constituency in 90 in the Delhi Assembly that does not have Biharis. In more than five constituencies, the percentage of Biharis is between 42 per cent and 47 per cent, definitely decisive in influencing the outcome of the election.

 In 10 constituencies, Biharis number between 17 per cent and 22 per cent. They are between 12 per cent and 17 per cent in about 10 other Assembly constituencies.

 For the migrant populace of a state that observes Chhath with great religious fervour, the involvement of political parties in the festival represents their commitment to the Bihari identity.

 Chhath, the worship of the sun, is spread over four days and involves fasting. It falls six days after Diwali.

 It is a major festival in Bihar and because the river Ganga is part of the life of virtually every Bihari, the Suryanamaskar is traditionally done standing in water that represents purity. Obeisance is paid to the rising and the setting sun amid chanting and folk songs.

 In Delhi, the celebration of Chhath as a political festival began with the surprise victory of Lal Bihari Tiwari, BJP MP representing East Delhi in the Lok Sabha.

 After this, every political party has discovered that it pays to be identified with the Biharis because they vote en masse.