The State Government’s directives banning arghya during Chhath Puja on water bodies in the State has created confusion in minds of municipal members and public at large. While the administrative officials are fully prepared to follow government directives, the municipal members including deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya are of the opinion that the government should take back its decision.
Deputy Mayor Vijayvargiya said that ponds are being cleaned continuously for the last 15 days. All the ponds are ready for Chhath. It will be difficult to stop people from coming here, but the government has banned the arrangement, in such a situation, people will have a lot of trouble. The government should withdraw its decision immediately.
Opposition to the guidelines issued by the state government on Chhath Puja late on Sunday night has started. According to the instructions, this time it is prohibited to celebrate Chhath on the banks of rivers, ponds, lakes or any reservoir. Now opposition to this decision of the government has started. Ranchi Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said that the government should reconsider its decision. Chhath is Mahaparva and people will definitely visit the ghat even after the restrictions. It will be difficult to stop them.
The deputy mayor said that a further decision would be taken after a review meeting on the role of the corporation in Chhath Ghat. He said that there has been a ban on the ghat from any facility and system. In such a situation, if people reach the ghat, then they will face inconvenience. In such a situation, only after the meeting, the corporation will decide what can be done next.
Meanwhile, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said, “As the government has put a ban on observing festival on river, ponds and other water bodies. We hope that people will follow government directives.” On being asked whether district administration will take action against those violating government directives, he said, “We have no reason to believe that people will not follow government directives.”
Special preparations are made on behalf of various puja committees to facilitate vratis at Chhath Ghat. With government directives most of the Puja committees confused. Bablu Munda of Chadri Pooja Committee said that Chhath is Mahaparva, people will do it and reach ghat for offering argya in such a situation it will be difficult to stop them.
Sources said that though the government has issued directives banning Chhath on water bodies, it is unlikely that the administrative officials will act strictly in enforcing directives as during Diwali as per government directives bursting of firecrackers on public places was prohibited, but hardly anyone followed government directives.