Kolkata/Patna: Chhath Puja, a festival deeply rooted in the culture of Bihar and Jharkhand, has found new political resonance in West Bengal. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced a two-day government holiday for the festival, drawing applause from the state’s sizeable Hindi-speaking population.
The declaration was made on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, with Banerjee posting her greetings on X and highlighting her government’s initiatives for the Hindi-speaking community since 2011. “Respecting the sentiments of the Hindi-speaking community, the state government has declared a two-day government holiday on the occasion of Chhath Puja,” she wrote.
The announcement has been met with visible enthusiasm among the Bihari and Jharkhandi diaspora in West Bengal, many of whom consider returning home for Chhath a matter of devotion. By extending the holiday, the state government hopes to ease travel and participation in the rituals.
आज हिन्दी दिवस है। इस अवसर पर सभी हिन्दी भाषी भाई-बहनों को मेरी हार्दिक शुभ कामनाएँ। प्रत्येक वर्ष हम श्रद्धा के साथ हिन्दी दिवस मनाते हैं। हम सभी भाषाओं के प्रति श्रद्धावान हैं।
इस संदर्भ में कहूँ तो वर्ष 2011 के बाद से राज्य में हिन्दी भाषी लोगों के विकास के लिए हमने कई अहम…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 14, 2025
Banerjee underlined the state’s linguistic inclusivity, noting that Hindi has been granted official status in areas where it is spoken by more than 10% of the population. Alongside Hindi, languages such as Santhali, Nepali, Urdu, Punjabi, and Telugu have also been recognised. She pointed to the creation of a Hindi Academy, the establishment of a Hindi University in Howrah, and the opening of Hindi medium degree colleges as part of broader outreach measures.
Observers, however, see the announcement as more than a cultural gesture. With assembly elections approaching, the move is being read as a political masterstroke aimed at consolidating the Hindi-speaking vote bank. The Bihari community, in particular, forms a significant bloc in Kolkata and other urban areas, and analysts believe Banerjee’s outreach could help the Trinamool Congress shore up support against the BJP.
