Keeping it true to tradition, devotional Chhath songs are renting the festive air in almost all households across Ranchi. Only, these are not being sung by family members while sitting under a canopy of sugarcanes, but are blaring out from music systems.

VCDs and DVDs of songs dedicated to the festival of Chhath and sung by popular Bhojpuri artistes are flying fast off the shelves at music stores in the capital. The affordable price — Rs 26 each — means that the demand has gone up with more and more people celebrating Chhath with every passing year.

Bhojpuri singer Sharda Sinha’s VCD Chhathi Maiya, comprising nine songs, has topped the popularity chart. Another Bhojpuri singer Devi’s VCD Kosi Ke Deeyana, which has eight songs, comes a close second. Others like Pawan Singh and Manoj Tiwari are also trying to strike a chord with music lovers with their albums Ye Dinanath and Chhath Maiya Ke Dihal Lalnawa, respectively.

“The demand is maximum for the songs of Sharda Sinha and Devi. They still remain the most favourite Bhojpuri singers. Sharda Sinha’s another album, Arag, is also finding many takers. We had got 100 copies of each and all have been sold,” said Swapan Ghosh, owner of Ghosh Musicals near Albert Ekka Chowk.

Then there is Bollywood singer Anuradha Paudwal’s album Chhath Puja Ke Geet, which has 10 Hindi songs.

This year, the craze is more for VCDs. “I had procured 2,000 VCDs and only 500 audio cassettes from Patna. Surprisingly, we have sold almost all VCDs,” Ghosh said.

“We don’t have distributorship in Jharkhand and have to purchase the CDs, VCDs and DVDs from distributors of Bihar,” said Manoj Singh, owner of a store at Kutchery Chowk.