As Patna welcomed folk singer Maithili Thakur, her thoughts were with the recently departed folk legend, Sharda Sinha. Thakur conveyed that the upcoming Chhath Puja will be marked by a collective sense of loss for Sinha and her impactful music. ‘She connected the country with the emotion of Chhath, with just her voice. We all will miss her,’ Thakur stated, reflecting on Sinha’s deep connection to the festival. Sharda Sinha, a national treasure recognized with the Padma Bhushan, was celebrated for her vibrant contributions to regional folk music, particularly her iconic Chhath anthems. Her passing on November 5, 2024, following a health struggle, has deeply affected the Indian music fraternity. Sinha’s career, which began in the 1970s, was marked by a dedication to preserving and popularizing folk traditions. In a separate development, Maithili Thakur’s visit to Patna is also significant due to her recent induction into the Bharatiya Janata Party, with speculation mounting about her potential participation in the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls.
