Audio CDs of Chhath songs on sale at a store in Sakchi on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

The Internet has eaten into their market, but audio CD stores in the steel city are still cashing in on the craze for Chhath special songs.

Devotional numbers by singers like Sharda Sinha, Anuradha Paudwal, Kalpana Patowari, Manoj Tiwari and Pawan Singh are selling like hot cakes.

New audio CDs by child artists are also in demand.

“The music companies have come up with new albums for Chhath. Although everything is available online and devotees play songs on their laptops or DVD players after downloading the same, we have still stocked up on audio CDs,” said Rajendra Pandey, proprietor of RK Audio Centre in Sakchi.

According to Pandey, a large number of people, who are not tech-savvy, prefer buying CDs from retail outlets. “They help us keep our margin,” he said, but admitted that the sales have dipped 20 per cent this year.

Md Saeed, a shopkeeper at Amar Market in Bistupur, said on an average, 50-60 audio CDs of Chhath songs were being sold everyday. Shops located in interiors like Kadma or Sonari have also managed to sell about 10 CDs per day.

Titles like Chati Mai Ke Mahima, Kaanch Hi Baans Ke Behangiya and Aaho Deenanath are in vogue. So are Shobhela Ghat Chhathi Maiya Ke, Pujan Chhati Mai Ke and Chhathi Maiya ke Lagal Darbar and Lachkela Bahangi, Kosi Ke Diyanaa and Chhati Ghat Chali.

With Rs 20 and Rs 30 being the cost of MP3 compilations, people from all walks of life can afford to buy them during the festival. “It is generally a week before Diwali that we get customers for audio CDs. Women who perform the rituals usually listen to songs, which create the perfect environment,” said Kumar Ranjan, a CD shop owner in Bistupur.

However, youths prefer downloading both audio and video versions of the albums from the Internet.

Angana Mein Kosi, Hey Chhathi Maiya, Ghat Ghat Saji Gele, Ganga Jee Ke Ghate, Patna Ke Ghat Par Naiyar by Kalpana Patowari, Sharda Sinha and Anuradha Paudwal are some of the numbers available on websites like www.gaana.com, www.bhojpuriplanet.co, ww.hungama.com and www.bhojpurimasti.in.

“I prefer buying CDs but youngsters at home have already downloaded some. We try to buy Sharda Sinha and Anuradha Paudwal albums. A few years down the line, it seems only online versions will be available,” said Sumita Devi, a resident of Agrico.