The Delhi government is making all arrangements for the “grand” Chhath Puja starting from October 25, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday. “The Delhi government is continuously making all the preparations. Taking it to a higher level, as Chhath is approaching, the pending works are being expedited. Preparations are being made for the grand Chhath in Delhi,” Rekha Gupta told reporters.
He further said, “Everyone wants that the Chhath festival should be celebrated beautifully. I have also spoken to the Chief Minister of Haryana and the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh today. We will get cooperation from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and also from the nearby states to find a solution to this problem which we faced in Delhi. As far as the holiday on Chhath festival is concerned, it is the prerogative of the Delhi government and we will take a decision on it.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister assured the public that preparations for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival are in full swing, with special attention being paid to cleanliness, infrastructure and ensuring smooth celebrations for all devotees in the national capital. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Gupta said the government is committed to creating a safe and clean environment for the devotees. He said, “The government is making every possible effort to ensure that our devotees stand in clean water and offer prayers. The government is working to ensure that all the events of this festival are conducted without any hindrance.
The Chief Minister announced the launch of a special cleanliness drive from Wednesday. He said, “A special cleanliness campaign will be started in which all our public representatives, MPs, MLAs and councilors will visit all the ghats of Chhath Puja in their respective areas and run a special cleanliness campaign.” Elaborating on the government’s efforts, he said, “Model Chhath ghats are being constructed. Last time, programs were held at only 929 places, but this time more than 1,000 applications have been received. Whatever applications come, they will be arrangement by government Will be done. A Chhath Ghat will be built in every district. Programs will be organized in keeping with the entire religious atmosphere.”
Chhath Puja is an important cultural and religious festival starting from October 25 and lasting for four days. It involves rigorous rituals, fasting and mass gathering at water bodies to worship. The festival attracts a large number of female devotees and is often celebrated as a break from daily household chores. It has special significance in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Nepal, and is widely celebrated by expatriates from these regions living in Delhi and elsewhere.