The four-day Chhath Puja festival requires devotees to observe a 36-hour waterless fast and stand waist-deep in river water to offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. To support this large religious community, the Delhi government set up 1,482 Chhath ghats across 996 separate locations. However, the severe pollution and toxic foam in the Yamuna have triggered fresh political friction between rival parties. Tensions escalated further on the first day of celebrations after footage of dead fish discovered at Sonia Vihar prompted calls for a formal inquiry.
Key points
The annual festival has evolved into a critical political battleground as parties compete…: The annual festival has evolved into a critical political battleground as parties compete for Delhi's Purvanchali community, which constitutes about 30 percent of the population.
Severe environmental degradation in the Yamuna poses recurring public health concerns for…: Severe environmental degradation in the Yamuna poses recurring public health concerns for worshippers performing traditional waist-deep water rituals.
Political friction between the AAP and BJP continues to manifest through riverbank protes…: Political friction between the AAP and BJP continues to manifest through riverbank protests, symbolic demonstrations, and disputes over river cleanup efforts.
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NEW DELHI: Purity, hygiene and cleanliness are paramount for devotees during Chhath Puja. With God as their witness - quite literally in this case - devotees go to great lengths to observe strict hygiene while following elaborate rituals centred around the worship of the Sun deity over four days.In Delhi, however, devotees will step into the sullied waters of the Yamuna, believing that their faith will protect them.As Delhi is already gasping for breath after Diwali, the debate has now pivoted to the pollution of the river which Delhi, for most of the year, views from the bridges built over it.As thousands of people come down to the Yamuna's banks, the river will undergo its annual public audit by devotees standing waist-deep in its waters.
Significance of Chhath
Chhath Puja, rooted in devotion to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, is primarily observed by people from Bihar, eastern UP and Jharkhand.Observed over four days, the festival begins with Nahay-Khay, when devotees prepare simple, traditional food while observing strict personal hygiene and purity.This is followed by Kharna, when jaggery-based kheer and…
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