India, Nov. 14 -- A day after his partymen staged protests against Chhath pooja at Banganga, opposing Bhojpuri songs being played at suburban railway stations, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday alleged the ruling BJP was using the festival to create a rift between north Indians and sons of the soil, with an eye on the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.

Chhath has been firmly entrenched in Maharashtra's evolving political fabric for nearly two decades.

Dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God), Chhath pooja is celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh bordering Bihar, to express gratitude for life on earth. It derives its name - chhath or sixth -- as it is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali. ...