Noida – With the divine grace of Lord Shri Krishna, the auspicious festival of Sama Chakeva is being celebrated with great devotion and joy by the people of Mithila and Bihar, wherever they are across the world. This sacred festival symbolizes the eternal bond of love, trust and protection between brothers and sisters.
Shailendra Kumar Mishra, President of the International Maithili Council and RWA Sector 82, Noida, shared that the celebration begins right after Chhath Puja from the day of Chhath Paran.
From this day, every household starts preparing beautiful clay idols of Sama and Chakeva with great enthusiasm. Those who are unable to prepare on this day do so on Devuthan Ekadashi.
Shailendra Kumar Mishra, President of the International Maithili Council and RWA Sector 82, Noida
The clay figures include:
Sama
Chakeva
Vrindavan Chugla
Satbhaiya
Peti & Petaar
…and various traditional elements symbolizing the divine story.
Every evening from that day onwards, women and girls gather in their courtyards, singing folk and devotional songs Bhagwati Geet, Brahmin Geet and towards the end, emotional songs of bidaai for the daughter. These melodious rituals continue until Kartik Purnima, the full moon night, when a holy immersion ceremony is performed. Men of the household also take part in this concluding divine moment.
The sacred legend behind the festival
As per the ancient story Sama, the beloved daughter of Lord Shri Krishna, often visited the forests of Vrindavan to play. One day, a man named Chugla, driven by mischief, falsely accused Sama of meeting a sage in secret. Enraged by the deceitful words, Lord Krishna unknowingly cursed his daughter to become a bird.
Sama, now a bird, lived in the forests in sorrow
When her brother Chakeva learned of the injustice done to his dear sister, he began intense penance to please the Lord. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Krishna offered a boon and Chakeva only asked for his sister back in her true form.
Thus, the sacred festival honors the deep love, sacrifice and unwavering faith between siblings. Every sister prays for the long life, prosperity and protection of her brother, while every brother vows to forever support and protect his sister.
A festival that lives in every heart
Though Sama Chakeva is traditionally celebrated in villages, the Maithili community continues the tradition with equal devotion in cities like Noida, keeping their cultural roots alive with pride.