Thousands of devotees gathered at ghats across the city on Monday evening to celebrate Chhath Puja, the four-day festival dedicated to the Sun god that will conclude on Tuesday. The Delhi government had set up 1,300 ghats, including 17 along the Yamuna river, and artificial ponds this year to accommodate the large number of devotees.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who participated in the ‘Sandhya Arghya’ as part of the festivities at Sonia Vihar Pusta, said, “This splendour, grandness, and divinity of Chhath being celebrated now is providing succour to the people of Delhi. I pray to Chhathi Maiya for the prosperity and happiness of Delhi.”
The festival is predominantly celebrated by Purvanchalis, residents of the city hailing from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand. The community, estimated to comprise over 30% of Delhi’s electorate, plays a crucial role in deciding the fate of elections. Both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP had wooed the community in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly election in February this year.
A large turnout at a ghat near ITO, in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in Chhath Puja prayers on Tuesday morning at Vasudev Ghat in north Delhi. A pool of water, separate from the main course of the river, has been created at the ghat for Mr. Modi’s visit.
