In a bid to woo the sizable section of the Biharis residing in some districts of the State ahead of the Assembly election, Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced Government holiday on the occasion of Chhatth Puja in four districts of the State — slated on November 4 — in Haridwar on Wednesday while participating in a cultural function organised by Congress leaders hailing from Purvanchal.
Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God with the rituals being held on the banks of Ganga and other rivers. Though mainly confined to the communities from Bihar and the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, it has now become popular across Uttarakhand. Purvanchalis living in a large number in the city areas as well as in the rural areas, they influence the result of several constituencies of the politically important district having as many as 11 seats in the 70-member Assembly. “The festival still evoking strong emotions among these communities, the CM, a crafty strategist, has hit on the right chords,” said an observer.
Greeting the community on Chhath Pooja, Harish Rawat said, “It is a great pleasure for us that Chhath Puja is being celebrated in Uttrakhand for the past few years on a mass scale. We are fortunate that Ganga originates from Uttarakhand. We are happy to announce that the day would be a holiday in four districts - Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital. We are ready to make river banks in these four districts to help the devotees perform the puja on the auspicious occasion.”
The announcement cheered the Congress leaders from the district, particularly those hailing from Bihar and eastern UP. “We celebrate Chhatth Puja, performing the elaborate rituals associated with it every year. The state government announcing a public holiday would help us a great deal,” said Kiran Singh, a Congress leader.