Migrant workers brave epic journeys home for Bihar festival season

The approach of major festivals has triggered a familiar but remarkable movement of migrant workers across India, with thousands making their way back to Bihar ahead of Deepavali and Chhath celebrations. The annual phenomenon underscores the deep cultural ties that draw workers away from employment hubs back to their home states, despite the considerable distances and logistical challenges involved.

The journey undertaken by four young men from Bengaluru exemplifies the lengths migrants traverse during this season. Travelling approximately 2,200 kilometres in an ageing auto-rickshaw, the group recently arrived in Areraj town in East Champaran district, completing a journey that tests both vehicle and traveller. Such expeditions, whether by road, rail, or bus, have become emblematic of the pre-festival migration wave that sweeps across India's interstate labour corridors.

The dual festival calendar—Deepavali and Chhath—holds particular significance for Bihar's diaspora communities. Chhath, celebrated primarily in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Jharkhand, carries profound religious and familial importance, compelling workers to prioritise homecoming despite professional and economic considerations. The festival season typically sees a surge in inter-state travel, straining transportation networks and highlighting the ongoing challenge of seasonal labour migration in India's economy.

Authorities and transport operators across affected states typically gear up for increased passenger volumes during this period, recognizing that the homeward movement is neither spontaneous nor easily deterred by cost or distance. For many migrants, the opportunity to celebrate with family and participate in traditional observances supersedes workplace commitments, making the festival season an annual marker of the cyclical nature of India's internal migration patterns.