Sarmila Thapa of Udaan Entertainment unveiled the Chhath song “Karile Parbiya” during an event in Janakpur on November 3, 2026, that highlighted its role in promoting Maithili heritage. Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh Yadav attended the launch and commended both the track and its performers for illuminating the significance of Chhathi Mata. The song, performed by Kalpana Patwari, arrives just days before this year’s Chhath observances, which a report from Outlook India indicated would run from November 13 to 16 across Nepal’s Terai region.
The music video was filmed at three prominent locations in Janakpur, according to myRepublica. These included the historic Janaki Temple, Rajdevi Temple and the ancient Gangasagar Pond, all central to local Chhath observances. Madhesh-based artists took part in the production, which depicts traditional rituals such as offerings to the sun and communal processions that define the four-day festival.
Thapa, who appears as the central figure in the video, addressed the gathering after the premiere. She stated her commitment to continuously spotlighting Mithila’s religion, culture and customs through artistic projects. The Udaan Entertainment operator also noted that her team would soon release the film “Mayajal,” dedicated to daughters, as part of ongoing cultural initiatives.
Chhath Puja ranks among the oldest continuously observed festivals in the Indian subcontinent and centers on devotion to Surya, the sun god, along with Chhathi Maiya as protector of children and households, a Mithila Jodi cultural overview found. Devotees maintain strict fasting, prepare thekuwa sweets from wheat and jaggery, and offer arghya while standing in water at dawn and dusk. In Nepal the festival holds particular importance in Madhesh Province, where Janakpur serves as a focal point with thousands gathering at ponds such as Gangasagar.
The release contributes to wider efforts to sustain Maithili music amid modernization pressures, a Nepal News analysis of regional cultural trends reported. Ritual songs performed by women during lifecycle ceremonies have faced decline in urban settings, prompting competitions and recordings that revive interest among younger generations and diaspora communities. Such songs, including those for Chhath, reinforce social bonds and transmit heritage across the Mithila region spanning Nepal and India.
Local markets in Janakpur see heightened demand for clay elephants, bamboo baskets and other ritual items in the lead-up to the festival, according to reports on annual preparations. Families produce prasad from home-grown grains, maintaining the event’s emphasis on simplicity and purity. Thapa’s project aligns with this tradition by visually documenting these practices at heritage sites, potentially broadening awareness beyond the Terai.
