Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in Chhath Puja celebrations at Yamuna Ghat on Monday, joining thousands of devotees in offering prayers to the setting sun. This year’s festival is being celebrated on a grand scale across the capital, with Gupta highlighting the extensive preparations made by the government to ensure a memorable and safe experience for all.
Chhath Puja, a significant festival for people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, is dedicated to the Sun God and is celebrated six days after Diwali. The four-day festival commenced on October 25th, with the main prayers, Sandhya Arghya, offered on October 27th and Usha Arghya on October 28th.
Gupta visited several ghats, including Vasudev Ghat near Kashmiri Gate, where she met with families and offered prayers. She emphasized that this year marks the first time the festival is being celebrated on such a large scale in Delhi, reflecting the city's cultural unity. The Chief Minister also took a boat ride from Pushta to the Sports Complex, Ram Ghat, and Shyam Ghat in Sonia Vihar, participating in the festivities at each location.
The Delhi government has made significant efforts to prepare the ghats along the Yamuna and other public places for the celebrations. This includes setting up 17 model Chhath ghats along the Yamuna from Palla to Kalindi Kunj, and over 1,000 temporary ghats in parks and other public spaces. These ghats are equipped with tents, lighting, sanitation facilities, drinking water, toilets, and medical assistance.
Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, along with BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva, also inspected various Chhath Ghats across Delhi to review the arrangements. They assessed the cleanliness, lighting, safety measures, water levels, and traffic management at locations such as Mayur Vihar Ghat, Ashok Nagar, Kondli, and Trilokpuri.
The reopening of the Chhath Puja Ghat near the Yamuna Bank Metro station after five years was a welcome development ahead of the festival. The permission to reopen the ghat was granted by the Gupta-led government after Sachdeva spoke with officials at the request of residents from the Purvanchal community. The ghat had been closed by the previous AAP government in 2020.
The Chief Minister had previously taken stock of the arrangements along the Yamuna, inspecting the ghats on the Palla Ghat side via a boat ride. She directed officials to ensure all facilities are ready for devotees, with emphasis on cleanliness, safety, and accessibility. While the government is committed to providing safe and clean ghats, the immersion of offerings or idols directly into the Yamuna remains prohibited.
Gupta addressed concerns about the Yamuna's water quality, stating that the river is cleaner this year. She also responded to criticism from AAP leaders, asserting that her government has accomplished in a short time what the previous administration could not achieve in over a decade, highlighting the visible transformation along the Yamuna.
The celebration of Chhath Puja in Delhi is not only a symbol of faith but also a testament to the city's unity in diversity and modernity in tradition. The festival brings together people from all walks of life to offer their gratitude to nature and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Purvanchal community.
