Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Monday said the Delhi government will make elaborate arrangements, including setting up temporary ghats along both the banks of the Yamuna river, for a grand celebration of Chhath Puja.
She said this year the Chhath Puja in Delhi will be historical with planned arrangements and purvanchali people will have an opportunity to celebrate the festival without any obstruction. In total, the capital hosts Chhath Pujas at 929 sites, and the government will make complete arrangements at each of them. Institutions requiring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) will be provided one without delay.
“We have planned a big Chhath Puja at temporary ghats on both the banks of the Yamuna and are ensuring proper arrangements for cleanliness,” CM Gupta said.
All the arrangements will be completed in time and there will be no shortcomings from any side, the CM said, adding that the national capital will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year.
In preparation for Chhath, the Chief Minister convened a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat on Monday. Cabinet Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra, Chief Secretary Dharmendra, and senior officials from relevant departments attended.
The Chief Minister clarified that immersion in the Yamuna is prohibited under existing rules, and immersion does not form part of Chhath rituals. Highlighting the growing population of Purvanchal residents in Delhi, she said that Chhath Puja will be organised along both banks of the Yamuna from Palla in the north to Okhla in the south with full facilities for devotees wherever suitable riverbanks are available.
The Chhath Puja celebration on Yamuna bank was halted during the pandemic. Later, a ban remained in place due to court orders. She added that in the coming days she would personally inspect the Yamuna and other sites to ensure there are no shortcomings in preparations.
Chhath Puja, celebrated by the Purvanchali community, natives of Eastern UP, Bihar, and other Bhojpuri-speaking people, is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the city. It involves the worship of the Sun God as women stand in knee-deep water.
Due to the ban, the Delhi government in the past few years had facilitated celebration by making hundreds of temporary small water tanks in parks and available public places.