Chhath Puja 2022 Updates: PM Modi Extends Greetings, Mumbai Police Issues Traffic Advisory for Commuters; Dry Day in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on Sunday on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja celebrations have begun for crores of devotees across the country, who will worship the setting sun this evening, and the rising sun on Monday morning.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi noted that the Chhath festival is dedicated to worshipping the sun and nature, and prayed for an illustrious life of countrymen.

Chhath Puja begins on the sixth day of the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. This festival is celebrated with particular fervour in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Women observe day-long fasts from sunrise to sunset, not consuming food or drinking even a drop of water for the well-being of their children.

On the occasion, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greeting to devotees celebrating Chhath. In a tweet, he said. “Hearty greetings to all the countrymen on Chhath Puja, the great festival of sun worship. May Chhath Maiyya bless everyone with happiness, peace, prosperity and health.”

The four-day festival will begin with the Nahai Khai ritual on Friday and conclude with the offering of Argha to Sun God on Monday morning. The main rituals at the water bodies will take place on the evening of October 30 and the following morning.

Every year, a large number of devotees gather at water bodies across the state such as ponds, rivers, reservoirs and lakes across Jharkhand to worship the rising and setting sun.

To avoid any law and order situation, administrations in some states have issued SOPs and advisories for devotees.

 Mumbai

Anticipating lakhs of devotees to congregate at Juhu beach to perform Chhath Puja, the Mumbai traffic police issued an advisory for parking restrictions. It also cautioned motorists of slow-moving traffic from Sunday till Monday morning.

In a statement, Mumbai traffic police said Chhath Puja Mahotsav will be celebrated from 10 am on Sunday to 11 am on Monday, where four to five lakh devotees are expected to congregate at Juhu Chowpaty.

“There will be heavy pedestrian crossing as well as movement of auto-rickshaws and other vehicles in large numbers on the Juhu Tara Road, Juhu Road, V M Road and Birla Lane. Hence, traffic will be slow on the above-mentioned roads during these hours. Therefore, people are requested to use S V Road and the western express highway as alternative routes to avoid delay,” it said.

The police added that there will be no parking zone on both sides of Juhu Tara Road, Juhu Road, Birla Lane and V M Road.

Delhi

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to holding Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna. In a first, Saxena declared Chhath on Sunday as a dry day ensuring that all the liquor shops in the city remain closed on the festival.

He also wrote a letter to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to deal with the issue of toxic froth in Yamuna before the festival on Sunday.

The Delhi government has made preparations for Chhath Puja at 1,100 sites, including the ITO ghat along the Yamuna river. As per the NGT order, no offerings are allowed to be immersed in the river Yamuna.

Jharkhand

All water bodies in Jharkhand where Chhath puja devotees will offer prayers have been cleaned, decorated with lights and barricaded for the first day ‘Argha’ to Sun God on Sunday evening, an official said.

To ensure safety and peaceful Chhath puja celebration, administration in different districts have deputed additional security forces and NDRF teams in vulnerable water bodies. Drones and CCTV cameras are also being used in major cities including Ranchi, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur to keep an eye on the festive activity, a senior police officer said.

In Ranchi, all 67 water bodies within the limit of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) have been cleaned up. Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra said.

“Barricading and danger zone marking at water bodies where water level is high this year have been completed. NDRF teams will be deployed at major water bodies of the city,” she said.

NDRF teams have been deputed at Kanke dam, Bada Talab, Button Talab and Dhuwa dam to deal with any crisis situation, an official said. Water bodies of the city have been divided into six zones and zonal magistrates have been deputed for each zone. Some 1,600 policemen are being deputed for security management during the festival in the city, a police officer said. Motorcycle squad would also be deputed for patrolling, while responsibility has also been fixed for volunteers of different puja committees.