CM Yogi pays tribute to folk legend Dr. Sharda Sinha
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath marked the death anniversary of Padma Vibhushan folk legend Dr. Sharda Sinha on 5 November 2026, honouring her role in giving voice to Chhath devotion and preserving Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi folk traditions.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath posted a tribute to Dr.
Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary on 5 November 2026 .
Sharda Sinha was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan , India's second-highest civilian honour.
She was celebrated for her Chhath devotional songs, which reached 'crores of people' across the Hindi belt.
Her repertoire spanned four regional languages: Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi .
The tribute coincides with the ongoing Chhath Mahaparv season, when her songs see peak cultural resonance.
Her voice was the sound of Chhath for millions — rising with the sun over Bihar's ghats, carrying devotion across generations. On her death anniversary, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute on Thursday, 5 November 2026 to Padma Vibhushan awardee and folk music icon Dr. Sharda Sinha, honouring a singer whose art transcended state lines and linguistic borders.
In his tribute, CM Yogi wrote: 'महान लोक गायिका... उनकी मधुर आवाज ने करोड़ों लोगों की आस्था को स्वर दिया' — 'the great folk singer... whose melodious voice gave voice to the faith of crores of people' through the songs of Chhath Mahaparv. He added that her contribution to popularising Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi folk music and earning it new recognition was 'incomparable', and that through her songs, 'she will always remain present among us all.'
Four languages, one legacy
Dr. Sharda Sinha was among the foremost voices of the Hindi belt's folk traditions, rooting her repertoire in four distinct regional languages — Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi — each carrying the textures of Bihar's social and spiritual life. Her recordings of Chhath devotional songs became near-inseparable from the festival itself, playing across homes and ghats during the annual observance of Chhath Mahaparv, one of the most significant sun-worship festivals in eastern India.
The state's highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian award — was conferred on her in recognition of this cultural weight. Her work did not merely entertain; it documented and preserved an oral tradition that had no other institutional safety net.
Why Bihar and UP leaders mark this anniversary
Tributes of this kind from political leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar carry a deliberate cultural logic. The Bhojpuri and Maithili-speaking population spans both states, and Chhath is among the fastest-growing festivals by reach and participation in urban India. Marking the death anniversaries of figures like Dr. Sinha reaffirms a connection to this demographic and signals institutional recognition of folk traditions often sidelined by mainstream cultural discourse.
CM Yogi's post arrives during the Chhath season itself — the timing is not incidental. As millions observe the festival across the Ganga-Yamuna belt, her songs are, once again, filling the air.
Point of View
Linking the governing establishment to a festival whose political salience has grown sharply with its urban spread. Such tributes also reflect a broader state interest in anchoring folk music traditions within a formal heritage narrative, one that elevates linguistic identity alongside devotional practice.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dr. Sharda Sinha?
Dr. Sharda Sinha was a celebrated folk singer from Bihar, renowned for her Chhath devotional songs and her contributions to Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi folk music. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour.
Why is CM Yogi paying tribute to Sharda Sinha?
CM Yogi Adityanath paid tribute on 5 November 2026 to mark Dr. Sharda Sinha's death anniversary, acknowledging her incomparable contribution to regional folk traditions and her role in voicing the devotion of millions during Chhath Mahaparv.
What award did Sharda Sinha receive?
Dr. Sharda Sinha received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to folk music.
What languages did Sharda Sinha sing in?
Dr. Sharda Sinha sang in Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Magahi — four distinct regional languages of Bihar and the broader Hindi belt.
What is the significance of Chhath Mahaparv in Sharda Sinha's legacy?
Chhath Mahaparv is a major sun-worship festival observed widely in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Sharda Sinha's renditions of traditional Chhath songs became iconic, turning her voice into an almost inseparable part of the festival's devotional experience.
