By Admin 
Dahi Chura Food on Makar Sankranti: In Bihar, Makar Sankranti not only means a festival, but it is also considered to be the most special season of politics. As soon as the fragrance of curd and bangles spreads, the commotion in the corridors of power intensifies. Who visited whose house, who was invited and who kept a distance – there are big political clues hidden in these questions. Many times this dahi-chuda feast also makes the picture of the government clear in the coming months.
Deep relationship between Bihar politics and Dahi-Chuda
In the politics of Bihar, Dahi-Chuda has become not an ordinary food but a strong political symbol. This banquet held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti gives a glimpse of the relationships, equations and upcoming decisions of the leaders. Over the years, it has been seen that big events like change of power, alliance breaking and political homecoming have been happening around this tradition.
Lalu Yadav had laid the foundation
The political beginning of Dahi-Chuda feast took place in 1994-95, when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Chief Minister. He organized Chura-Dahi at his residence on Makar Sankranti. Big leaders were called on the first day and common people and supporters were invited on the second day. Lalu Yadav himself used to serve food with his own hands, which sent a message of closeness between the public and the government. This tradition gradually became a permanent part of the politics of Bihar.
tradition becomes political platform
With time, this banquet became not just a social event, but leaders of different parties made it a medium to show their political strength and improve relations. Which leader attended which banquet and who kept his distance started being seen as a political signal. The eyes of media and political analysts started focusing on these events.
Tej Pratap Yadav’s new experiment
This time Lalu Yadav himself is not hosting the banquet, but his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav has taken this tradition forward. Tej Pratap’s event is much discussed because he has invited leaders of both the ruling party and the opposition. He himself reached Rabri residence to call the Governor, Chief Minister, opposition leader and even his brother Tejashwi Yadav. This banquet is being linked to future politics.
Role of Ram Vilas Paswan and Chirag Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan also used to give dahi-chuda feast every year on Makar Sankranti. Later his son Chirag Paswan carried forward this tradition. The special thing was that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the banquet held in Delhi in 2015. At that time, assembly elections were near in Bihar and the political environment was changing rapidly.
2015: When the direction of power changed
The banquet held before the 2015 assembly elections is still remembered. Nitish Kumar was with NDA during that period, but after some time he left the alliance and contested the elections with the Grand Alliance. In the election results, the Grand Alliance won and Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister. Political experts had already seen signs of this change in the Dahi-Chuda banquets.
2017: Alliance broke after sweetness
Nitish Kumar also attended the banquet held at Rabri Devi’s residence on Makar Sankranti 2017. Lalu Yadav had vaccinated him with curd and both the leaders had given signs of unity. At that time it was said that the alliance between Lalu and Nitish was strong, but within a few months the Grand Alliance broke and Nitish Kumar went to form the government with the NDA.
Dahi-Chuda and political homecoming
Many times the feast of Makar Sankranti has also become the stage for the homecoming of leaders. In 2018, a banquet was held at the house of JDU leader Vashishtha Narayan Singh, in which then Congress state president Ashok Choudhary attended. After some time, he left Congress and joined JDU. From this it became clear that the banquet is not just a formality but a part of the strategy.
The story of Dahi-Chuda reached the court
The importance of Dahi-Chuda can also be gauged from the fact that in 2018, Lalu Yadav had mentioned it in his bail application while in jail. He said that every year thousands of people come to his house for feast on Makar Sankranti and it would be an insult if he did not stay out. Although the court did not accept it, this story is still discussed in politics even today.
Also read: From Lohri-Sankranti to Pongal… why are the names of festivals related to crops different in every state?