With the Ganga canal remaining closed, the Diwali celebration in Haridwar was reduced to a lusterless affair. Neither were the devotees able to perform the lakshmi puja on the bank of Ganga nor they were able to float the earthen lamps on the holy river, a ritual that has turned into the quintessential identity of Haridwar. Things would continue to be so for the next ten days, say the irrigation officials. The traders are angry over the river remaining almost dry with the Ganga canal being closed since October 11-the day Dussehra was celebrated. The tourists are not coming as the water level is barely knee deep, making holy dip difficult, runs the critical refrain. The Ganga canal was closed for annual cleaning and maintenance activities on October 11. However, the locals were assured that the normal flow would be restored on the night of Diwali. But the people were disappointed as the assurance was not acted upon. What is more, the irrigation officials say that the state of things would continue for the next 10 days with the repairing work still on. Disappointment is palpable among the residents of Purvanchal in particular as they would find it difficult to perform the Chhath festivities, now drawing near. Dipendra Sahu of Shivalik Nagar said, “We worship the Sun god while standing in river. The Ganga remaining almost dry how would we perform the pujaIJ” Despite Ganga Mahasabha wrote to the UP government, asking it to resume the water flow failing which they threatened to move court.
However, nothing has happened so far. President Ganga Mahasabha Purushottam Sharma Ganshiwadi said, “It is a breach of trust by the department. We had received a letter that stated that the Ganga canal would remain closed till October 29. However, another letter followed which stated that things would remain the same till November 11. Thousands of people come to perform Chhatth Puja here. They would be utterly disappointed, seeing here the phantom of the real Ganga,” he added.