Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Unprecedented Arrangements for Devotees
In recognition of Chhath Puja’s cultural and spiritual significance, the Delhi Government declared a public holiday on October 27, 2025, enabling lakhs of devotees to freely participate in rituals which reach their peak during Sandhya Arghya—the evening offering to the Sun God. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with officials and community leaders, personally inspected preparations at major ghats including Pochanpur, Mangolpuri, and Vasudev Ghat. More than 1,300 ghats across Delhi have been readied with enhanced facilities: lighting, sanitation, clean water, medical services, and decorated entrances. Seventeen large model ghats have been set up along the Yamuna, transforming the city into a vibrant epicenter for Chhath celebrations.
The Essence of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a festival of endurance, purity, and communal harmony, revered in Delhi especially among those with origins in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern UP. Over four days, rituals honor the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. Women—known as Parvaitin—observe a 36-hour fast, abstaining even from water. The festival emphasizes self-purification and environmental respect, as devotees gather along rivers and water bodies to offer prayers for health, prosperity, and the longevity of their families. Chhath is unique in its inclusivity: its rituals do not require priests and unite all castes and classes in devotion, highlighting gratitude toward nature and reinforcing the importance of clean water and community spirit.
Community, Governance, and Celebration
For the first time, the Delhi government permitted Chhath rituals directly on the Yamuna’s banks, having previously restricted celebrations to artificial ponds. Leaders joined devotees in folk singing and prayers, and more than 200 ghats hosted cultural programs in Bhojpuri and Maithili languages. Authorities organized cleanliness drives and improved safety measures, making the city’s arrangements for Chhath Puja inclusive, eco-friendly, and deeply respectful of the festival’s spiritual legacy.
