With the State Government allowing Chhath Puja festivities at ponds, lakes and other water bodies by relaxing the Covid-induced curbs last month, the district administration and the civic body Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) are pulling out all stops to make sure that adequate arrangements are made for the devotees who will throng the ghats on November 10.
The Ranchi district administration and Civic body has prepared 45 ghats, mainly on ponds, lakes and two big reservoirs where devotees will offer arghya to setting Sun God on Wednesday and rising Sun God on Thursday morning.
Some of the ponds where devotees can offer arghya include Ranchi Lake popularly known as Bada Talav, Batan Talav at Doranda, Chadri Talak near Albert Ekka roundabout, Karam toil Talav, Jail Lake, Hatia dam, Kanke dam among others.
Various Chhath puja committees were seen making last minute arrangements at Chhath ghats. The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) team and district administration team on Tuesday visited various Chhath ghats overseeing the preparations.
Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra, Ranchi MLA and former minister CP Singh on Tuesday visited Chhath ghats overseeing preparations.
The RMC has issued directions for deployment of police as well as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF. The civic body has also directed puja committee members to ensure that Covid 19 guidelines are followed during the festival. The Mayor has asked puja committee members for distribution of masks and sanitisers at Chhath ghats.
The Ranchi district administration team also discussed route plans and restrictions on traffic movement which will be put in place ahead
of the festival.
Puja committee members were asked to prepare a changing room for devotees, along with lighting arrangements. The Ranchi district administration apart from construction of Chhath ghats has also issued construction of artificial ponds at localities. RMC sources said that around 60 artificial ponds have been constructed across the State Capital, with 10 artificial ponds in Harmu area.
This Chhath festival Hattington pond popularly known as Hatania Talab will miss Governor Ramesh Bais on the occasion of Chhath as he will be in Delhi to attend Governors’ conference.
Treasurer of Bhartiya Youth Sangathan MahaChhath Puja Samiti, Pramod Pathak, said Hatania Talav is known destination for VVIPs who offer arghya to setting and rising sun on the occasion of Chhath, as the Talav is adjacent to Raj Bhawan, Governor along with his family members visit the pond for offering arghya, however, this year the tradition will discontinue as Governor is likely to visit Delhi. The Talav spread over an area of 1.5 acres and generally witnessed visits of VIPs.
“Barring the Governor, who will leave tomorrow morning to participate in the Governors’ conference, all prominent figures of the state including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others are expected to visit the pond,” Pathak said.