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CHHATH PUJA at miramar wooing migrant votes
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CHHATH PUJA at miramar wooing migrant votes

Uncategorized October 31, 2025 , by

By Praveena Sharma

As the Bihari population grows in Goa, it is getting embedded in the local politics…

LATELY, the number of Biharis in Goa has been growing exponentially. They have multiplied several folds as educated and uneducated youth from this eastern state come looking for opportunities.
This is visible in the scale of celebration of Chhath Puja – an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in Bihar – in Goa. This is prompting local politicians to squeeze electoral gains from it. They are enticing Biharis by assisting them in organising Chhath Pujas across Goa’s beaches.
And, with the Bihar elections round the corner (November 6 -11), local politicians went overboard this year in their appeasement. Overlooking environmental and civic concerns, they offered major beaches – on October 26 and October 27 – as venues for Aragh, ritualistic offerings of water, fruits and other items, to the setting and rising sun during the festival.
JITENDRA PRASAD, a Bihari resident of St Cruz and spokesperson of the Chhath Puja organised on the Miramar beach, said close to 15-20,000 Biharis assembled – over two days – on the Miramar beach to celebrate the festival with gaiety and religious fervour.
For the past four years, they have been thronging the Miramar beach with the Goa government providing amenities such as puja counters, washrooms and changing rooms and host of other such facilities.
Prasad, who came to Goa 25 years back, said he has been celebrating Chhath Puja for the last 17 years but it was only lately that the festival has gained prominence due to the active support from the state government.
“This year, there were 10 changing rooms, 10 washrooms and so many other amenities provided to us (Biharis),” he said.
Besides Miramar, Chhath Puja is also organised on Colva, Vasco, Baina, and other beaches.
Prasad noted now that Chhath Puja events were being organised in Goa, Biharis were not compelled to travel to their hometowns to celebrate it. He estimated the number of migrants from Bihari and UP in Goa to be close to 40,000.
AND as the Bihari population grows, it is becoming inextricably intertwined with Goan politics. In their scramble to woo the Bihari electorate for the coming election in the eastern state, local politicians brushed aside any concern for Goa’s beaches. They allowed them to be ruined and ravaged to reap electoral dividends in Bihar.
This political gesture by Goan politicians could translate into Goa’s Biharis casting their votes in favour of BJP in Bihar.
Religion and politics can make a potent mix. It has the power to overrides any other political concoction. In India, it has become the existential core of our political milieu. This was on display during Chhath Puja in Goa.

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