Chhat Puja (Delhi dance)

Understand

Where Chhat Puja (Delhi dance) comes from

Chhat Puja is a major four-day festival observed in Delhi particularly by the Bihari and UP migrant communities of the city (the diaspora of Purvanchal), performed at the Yamuna ghats (the Kalindi-Kunj, the ITO ghat and the Signature Bridge ghat of Wazirabad). The festival is dedicated to the Sun and the Chhath Maiya and is observed with a ritual-dance-procession by the women of the diaspora. The dance is part of the larger Bihari-and-UP Chhat tradition (which I have already documented for the Bihar entries). The form is one of the defining festivals of Delhi's Bihari community and is regularly performed at the ghats of the city.

How it's practiced

Chhat Puja dance is performed by women of the Bihari-and-UP diaspora of Delhi in procession at the Yamuna ghats. The women carry the Soop (the bamboo basket of thekua and the prasad fruits) and dance in coordinated steps to the songs of Chhath Maiya. The dance is devotional, with the women's small swaying steps and the sung verses of the Chhat song-cycle. Music is the dholak, the small cymbals and the regional drums. Costume is the bright unstitched sari of the Bihari Chhath tradition (the bright red, yellow and orange), with the women's silver jewellery. Performances are at the Yamuna ghats of Delhi and at the procession of the festival.