Chhath Puja devotees elated at ‘clean’ Yamuna this year (The Pioneer 10 November 2010)

Over a month-long festive season in the Capital is nearing completion with yet another important festival, the Chhath Puja on Friday and Saturday. Though the four-day long fast started on Tuesday, the festival would end with paying obeisance to the setting Sun on Friday evening followed by the one to the rising Sun on Saturday morning. However, lakhs of Poorvanchalis in Delhi will be a happier lot this year given the unprecedented cleansing of river Yamuna, thanks to the flood that purged the river of all dirt deposit with enormous volume of water flow. With nearly 50 lakh Poorvanchalis — people belonging to the States of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern UP — staying in Delhi, the Surya Shashti (Chhath) festival has become an integral part of the various celebrations in Delhi after Dussehra, Diwali and Holi. The festival has, over the years, also gained political significance as various political parties have been wooing Poorvanchalis that form a major chunk of electorates in the Capital. But while the devotees are prepared for the festival, the administration and civic bodies are yet to begin cleaning of the 29 ghats where they will throng on the last two days to perform the puja. Delhi’s Urban Development Minister AK Walia on Monday inspected various ghats in east Delhi and directed the officials to carry out the necessary works at the earliest. PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said the Government is making logistic arrangements on 29 ghats throughout the city besides cleaning them up for the festival. He said that proper water and electricity arrangements would be made on the ghats and tents and chairs would be arranged for the devotees. He further said that proper security measures would also be taken that includes the presence of police personnel, divers and boats to avert any untoward incident. “Doctors, mobile dispensaries and ambulances would also be there round the clock for two days,” he addedExpecting a large gathering of people on the ghats, the Delhi Traffic Police have also made arrangements for it. The police will impose restrictions on movement of commercial vehicles on major interstate road passages surrounding the ghats. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg said adequate deployment of traffic cops will be there to ensure proper movement of devotees and smooth flow of general traffic. Some of the major ghats include Purvi Ghat, Wazirabad, Ram Ghat, Sur Ghat and Shyam Ghat near Wazirabad (West), Kudasia and Geeta Ghat near Chandgi Ram Akhara on Ring Road, Geeta Colony Pusta, Rainy Well in Shakarpur and IP Estate and ITO Yamuna River on the eastern and western sides.Chhath Puja is observed with paying obeisance to the rising Sun on the 6th day from Diwali. This year it starts from November 10, with a ritual known as Nahaye-Khaye in which the worshippers take a meal of Lauki-Bhaat (Gourd and cooked rice) after a bath to begin with their almost three day fast. The next day —November 11 will be observed as Kharna, where on this day the family deity is worshipped and prasaad of Kheer, jaggery and poorie is distributed which marks the procedural beginning of the Chhath Puja. On October 12, the devotees would continue with their day long fast and offer prayers to the setting Sun known as Pehla Argh in the evening at the banks of rivers, ponds or artificial water bodies made in the premises of the residence like that of high profile people in the Capital. Lakhs of worshippers throng the roads of the city to reach the river banks by singing devotional songs which continues throughout the night even as interested worshippers perform the Kosi Puja.In the next morning the first rays of the Sun God is worshipped called as Subeh Ka Argh that would be on November 13. Finally the fast is broken and the prasaad constituting of Thekua, a traditional Bihari baked cake of maida, flour and gur, laddoos made out of rice and fruits are served and also distributed to all and sundry. The weeklong preparation of Chhath Puja which is done for the welfare of the family, especially son comes to an end with a feast on the spicy vegetables. Meanwhile, scores of people have also started moving from Delhi to their native places in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand.