Chhath Puja, one of the largest religious celebrations of people from Purvanchal, is to be held on November 6-7, and the administration and various social organisations are busy improving provisions at all the Chhath ghats in Dwarka.
The number of ghats has been increased and the arrangements have been upgraded. Thousands of people will throng the various ghats in and around the sub-city to pay their ritualistic homage to the Sun god. These ghats include Dada Dev Mela Ground, Chhath Ghat in Sector 8, DDA Park Chhath Ghat, the Sector 11 Chhath Ghat, Dabri Ghat and Nasirpur Ghat.
Talking of celebrations in Sector 8, general secretary of Dwarka Palam Chhath Puja Samiti, Shivji Singh, said, “This is a mass celebration, with the number of people increasing every year. The authorities want to provide adequate facilities at all the ghats. In Sector 8, seeing the scale of celebrations, a park was rechristened Chhath Park by the DDA. We have cleaned up the ghats, and made provisions for free cow milk and gangajal for the devotees. We have also asked a few priests to be around for both evening and morning arghya [an offering of water to the Sun god]."
Amrendra Singh, acting president of the Samiti, said, "Preparations have been completed. Today, we spoke to the Delhi Jal Board for supplying water to the ghat. We have set up counters, and our volunteers are there to help devotees. Every year about 10,000 people come here."
In Sector 11, Chhath Puja is organised by Dwarka Religious Social and Cultural Association. Its president, Robin Sharma, said, "Seeing the swelling number of devotees, we have increased the number of ghats from 14 to 16. The whole area is to be covered with carpets, so people can sit comfortably. First aid and medical facilities have also been kept at the ready."
The festival, however, is no longer confined to only people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar; other communities, too, are participating eagerly now, feel the area's organising committees.
Singh elaborated, "The festival is not just for the Purvanchali people any more. We have seen many Gujarati and South Indian families participate in rituals."
Cultural programmes will be organised at various places on the occasion.
