In view of rising pollution levels, Noida Industrial Development Authority has taken steps to celebrate Chhath Puja without polluting the water bodies in the city. With this motive, a huge temporary reservoir is made at Noida Stadium in Sector 21A for the convenience of residents, especially those settled in Noida from eastern UP and Bihar.
The 140 feet long and 60 feet wide reservoir can accomodate more than 200 devotees at one go. It is 2.5 feet deep allowing those who are fasting to take a holy dip to begin the ritual of Chhath Puja.
Suresh Tiwari, general secretary of Pravasi Mahasang, Noida, which is organising the festival at Stadium, said, that the Noida Authority, district administration and the police have whole heartily extended support to organising the festival.
He said, "The organising committee made necessary arrangements extensively for the convenience of all those who observe the festival of faith and beliefs with great enthusiasm. They are hereby invited to come for Puja with family and friends." "We appeal to them to come here in the stadium for the celebration of Chhath Puja rather than going to the banks of Yamuna river,” he added.
As the arrangement of necessary facilities are in progress and celebration has already started, many of devotees reached the venue with bamboo sticks to reserve a space for the celebration. They occupied a piece of area for making Prasad to offer to Sun God.
The bad weather conditions and increasing air pollution levels did not dampen the spirit of the devotees. Many of them reached the venue as early as they could on Thursday late night and started barricading a sizable area for their families. They laid red carpet and decorated the space.
