Thousands Gather At Delhi Ghats For Chhath After 2 Years Of Covid Curbs!

Chhath is one of the most popular festivals in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar...

After two years of restrictions owing to Covid, thousands of devotees thronged ghats and makeshift ponds across the capital on Sunday to worship the Sun God as part of Chhath Puja celebrations.

Devotees, especially women keeping the arduous 36-hour-long fast 'Nirjala Vrat', sang devotional and folk songs and offered 'arghya' to the Sun God while standing in knee deep water at ghats or makeshift ponds.  Chhath puja is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali and is also known as Surya Sashthi as it is dedicated to the Sun God. It is one of the most popular festivals in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

After two years of Covid-induced restrictions, Chhath Puja is being celebrated this year at public places on a large scale in Delhi.

Arrangements are good but it needs to be improved. After two years of Covid, we have come here at a ghat. Hope Chhath Maiya will bless everyone and fulfil every one's wishes," Ms Singh told PTI.

Devotees worshipped the setting sun on Sunday evening. They will also worship the rising sun on Monday morning.  It involves offering 'arghya' to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water.

According to the statement, "We are here for Chhath Puja. The government has made good arrangements but we have been asked not to enter Yamuna and instead perform the rituals in ghats made near the river," Raghunath Kant, a resident of Laxmi Nagar who visited ITO ghat for Chhath Puja, said.