Chhath Puja 2024: The Delhi government has declared November 7 as a public holiday on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja is an important Hindu festival dedicated to Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. On this day, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, people fast and pray on the banks of rivers. During this, they seek blessings for health, prosperity and the well-being of their families.
Delhi Chhath Puja Holiday: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has announced that there will be a public holiday in the national capital on the occasion of Chhath Puja on November 7. Earlier, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had written a letter to the Chief Minister urging him to declare November 7 as a government holiday. Chhath festival is celebrated especially in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, people of these areas living in other states also celebrate it with special pomp. Devotees in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh fast on this day and pray on the banks of rivers. During this, they seek blessings for health, prosperity and the well-being of their families.
CM Atishi wrote on the social media platform X on Friday (November 1), I am happy to inform you that the Delhi government has declared a holiday on November 7 for Chhath festival so that all our brothers and sisters of Purvanchal can celebrate this festival with enthusiasm and zeal. ”
Apart from this, an official order said, “Chhath Puja is an important festival for the people of Delhi. Accordingly, the Delhi government has decided to declare November 7, 2024, as a public holiday on the occasion of ‘Chhath Puja’.” The announcement by the CM came hours after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor wrote to the Chief Minister requesting him to declare November 7 as a holiday.
Earlier in the day on Friday, Raj Niwas Delhi in a post on X said, “Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has written to Hon’ble Chief Minister requesting him to forward the file for declaring 7th November, 2024 as a public holiday on the occasion of Chhath Puja.”
The festival is dedicated to the worship of Sun God. Devotees celebrate it by following a rigorous routine that lasts for four days. The rituals and traditions of this festival include fasting, offering arghya to the rising and setting sun, holy bath and meditation while standing in water.
Govt to prepare 1000 ‘model ghats’: CM Atishi
According to reports, Chief Minister Atishi said that the Delhi government will build 1000 ‘model ghats’ across the city for the Purvanchali festival Chhath. She said that the ghats will be built in each of the 70 assembly constituencies to facilitate Chhath Puja, which is performed by lakhs of devotees in Delhi.
A Delhi government statement said that in a high-level meeting, the chief minister directed officials to coordinate with Chhath Puja committees and incorporate their suggestions while preparing for the festival, including lighting at the ghats, clean water, toilets, tents, security.
The CM assured that the Delhi government is committed to ensure that the festival is celebrated without any inconvenience. The statement further said that there will be clean water, tents, electricity, toilets, security, medical facilities, power backup, CCTV cameras and other necessary arrangements at the ghats.
Atishi also directed the officials to pay special attention to cleanliness on the ‘ghats’. The Chief Minister directed all the District Magistrates to hold meetings with the local Chhath Puja committees in their areas and collect suggestions for the arrangements of the festival. This time the festival holds special importance as assembly elections are to be held in February next year.
