With lakhs of devotees expected to observe Chhath Puja across Delhi, the Government has identified 1,482 ghats at 996 locations and engaged 74 agencies to complete the arrangements ahead of the festival.
Preparations include 1,372 temporary ghats, 81 permanent ones and 29 along the Yamuna, with authorities focusing on cleanliness, basic facilities and access for devotees.
Delhi Cabinet Minister for Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control, Parvesh Sahib Singh, on Wednesday inspected preparations at Hathi Ghat near ITO and other locations. He reviewed the facilities being put in place and directed officials to ensure that the work is completed before the festival. Officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Delhi Jal Board were present during the inspection.
The scale of the arrangements reflects the spread of Chhath celebrations across the capital. Of the 996 identified locations, 53 have 81 permanent ghats, while 914 locations will have 1,372 temporary ghats.
Another 29 ghats are being prepared at 29 locations along the Yamuna. A total of 155 works have been awarded across the city, with 74 agencies engaged. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Delhi Jal Board are leading the preparations and coordinating the work at the designated sites.
Planned arrangements include cleaning ghats, developing and maintaining basic infrastructure, and providing facilities to make the sites accessible to devotees. Special attention is being given to locations expected to attract large gatherings.
The two departments are working to ensure that the facilities are ready before devotees arrive to offer prayers. The arrangements are intended to allow families to perform the rituals without having to contend with a lack of basic amenities at the ghats.
Chhath Puja is observed over several days, with devotees offering prayers to the setting and rising Sun. The rituals draw large numbers of people, particularly from Delhi’s Purvanchali community, making arrangements at riverbanks and designated ghats a major part of the city’s preparations for the festival.
After inspecting Hathi Ghat, Singh said the Government understood the festival’s importance for families across Delhi and wanted devotees to perform the rituals in a peaceful environment.
He said the concerned departments had been asked to finish the work on time and address devotees’ requirements at every location. The minister also stressed that the arrangements should cover permanent, temporary and Yamuna-side ghats. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Delhi Jal Board are continuing work at the identified sites.