The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi prepares for Chhat puja

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi prepares for Chhat puja

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 16 . Realising the importance of the festival and the public sentiments attached to it, the Delhi Government has made elaborate arrangements for Chhat Puja celebrations across the Capital on November 18 and 19. Nearly a dozen ghats have been set up at various places with the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, herself scheduled to lead the Capital at the celebrations.

According to the Poorvanchal leader and MLA from Nasirpur, Mahabal Mishra, who is part of the committee constituted to celebrate the festival on a big scale in Delhi, the Congress Government for the first time has set up bathing ghats at Bhalaswa Jehangirpuri, Qudasia Ghat, Wazirabad Surya Ghat, sites at Geeta Colony, Kalandi Kunj, Mangolpuri, ITO Ghat and Nasirpur-Dabri Ghat. The Chief Minister is likely to attend the celebrations only at ITO and Bhalaswa Jehangirpuri this year in view of the injury to her ankle.

The Delhi Government has already declared November 18 as a restricted holiday to honour the sentiments of the Poorvanchal people.

Mr. Mishra said apart from the arrangements at the ghats, the Government has also decided to run additional bus service to ferry people from one destination to another on these two days. These buses would be run till late in the night and from early morning keeping in view that the celebrations commence at the break of dawn.

Stating that Delhi Government had taken the lead in providing facilities for the celebration of the festival in a big way, Mr. Mishra said already the Government had floated a Rs. 75 lakh tender to construct a permanent Surya Upasana Ghat at ITO from next year onwards. Construction of another three such ghats would be taken up next year as part of the commitment of the Delhi Government to upgrade facilities for the migratory population that comes from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Mr. Misra expressed his grief over the death of five people during the stampede at New Delhi railway station when they were trying to board a train to Bihar to celebrate the festival.

However, he said he was satisfied with the arrangements made by the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to ferry passengers to Bihar and parts of the Uttar Pradesh.

"We will urge the Chief Minister to declare Chhat as a gazetted holiday next year in view of the importance of the festival and sentiments attached with it. I am hopeful that the Chief Minister will give a considerate thought to our demand,'' he added.

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