Delhi declares school holiday for Chhath Puja; 1,300 ghats prepped for devotees
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced that October 27 (Monday) will be a government holiday to mark Chhath Puja. The decision coincides with the festival’s third day, considered the most sacred, when devotees gather along riversides and ponds to offer prayers to the setting sun.The holiday also recognises the festival’s cultural and spiritual importance, reflecting its emphasis on faith, devotion, and the harmony between humans and nature. Chhath Puja is observed through rituals that celebrate purity, gratitude towards nature, and environmental awareness, making it one of the most significant festivals in Delhi’s social calendar.
Extensive arrangements across Delhi ghats
The Delhi government has mobilised preparations at over 1,300 Chhath ghats across the city. Seventeen model ghats along the Yamuna are being upgraded with improved facilities, including tents, lighting, toilets, drinking water, and enhanced security, to ensure devotees can perform rituals comfortably and safely.
CM inspects Pochanpur Ghat preparations
During an inspection at Pochanpur Chhath Ghat in Dwarka Sector 23B, CM Rekha Gupta, accompanied by MLA Sandeep Sahrawat and members of the Chhath Puja Committee, oversaw decoration and maintenance activities, according to media reports. The initiative emphasised citizen participation alongside government efforts to turn the festival into a city-wide celebration of cultural unity.
Yamuna cleaning and environmental initiatives
The government’s ongoing Yamuna cleaning work has been progressing over the past eight months, showing visible improvements in water quality. Coordination with neighbouring states Haryana and Uttar Pradesh has been central to the initiative, with the city administration aiming to combine environmental responsibility with festival arrangements.
New Ghats and development projects
Earlier on Friday, the CM inaugurated a newly constructed Chhath ghat and other development projects worth ₹30 crore in Laxmi Nagar. The initiative also recognised the contributions of the Purvanchal community to Delhi’s socio-economic growth.
Delhi prepares for grand Chhath celebration
With the government holiday and upgraded facilities across the Capital, Delhi is set for a large-scale Chhath celebration, blending devotion, civic planning, and environmental consciousness.(With PTI inputs)
