Railways faces backlash for playing Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai train stations
Central Railway faced criticism for playing Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai stations ahead of the Chhath Puja festival. The incident sparked a debate regarding the use of public announcement systems for regional cultural events versus local Marathi traditions.
Why it matters
The controversy reflects ongoing tensions regarding regional identity, cultural representation, and the management of public spaces in diverse urban centers.
Mumbai A controversy erupted on Thursday (November 12, 2026) over the playing of Bhojpuri songs at some train stations in Mumbai ahead of the Chhath Puja festival, with the move drawing criticism and raising questions over the use of Railway announcement systems for cultural events. The issue came to light after videos of Bhojpuri songs being played at Railway stations surfaced on social media, drawing objections from sections of Marathi-speaking people and activists of some political parties. Responding to the controversy, a Central Railway (CR) spokesperson said various jingles and awareness messages related to specific themes are played at stations on different occasions.
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