Chhath Puja Ghats

Watch: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta takes part in Chhath Puja celebrations at Yamuna ghat

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta joined scores of devotees in offering ‘Arghya’ to the rising Sun along the banks of the Yamuna River on the concluding day of Chhath Puja on Tuesday.

Tejashwi slams Centre over shortage of Bihar-bound trains during Chhath

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday criticised the BJP-led central government for "not running adequate number of Bihar-bound trains" to cater to the rush of passengers during Chhath Puja and alleged that people were being forced to travel in "inhumane conditions." In a video statement, Yadav alleged, "The railway minister and the other ministers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government blatantly lied that 12,000 out of 13,000 festive special trains are being operated for Bihar on the occasion of Chhath festival." Assuring jobs for migrant workers if the opposition INDIA bloc is voted to power, the RJD leader said, "This is my promise to all people who have come to celebrate Chhath that next year we will provide them employment here, and they will celebrate the festival with their families in Bihar itself. Yadav said, "I urge all those who have come to Bihar for Chhath to have thekua' and not go back to their workplaces without casting their votes. They must vote for us as we ..

Traffic restrictions placed in Delhi ahead of Chhath Puja celebrations

Anticipating that thousands of devotees would gather at various ghats for Chhath Puja in the next two days, Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday announced traffic restrictions and diversions across several parts of the city. According to the advisory, traffic flow is expected to be affected from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning on roads adjoining major Chhath Puja ponds. Commuters have been advised to avoid stretches near ghats and use public transport wherever possible. In east and northeast Delhi, major gatherings are expected at the Gandhi Nagar Chhath Poojan Samiti Naav Ghat near the Old Iron Bridge, Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sangtan Ghat and Satyamev Jayate Ghat near Geeta Colony, each likely to draw more than 45,000 devotees. The DND Yamuna Khadar and Chhath Ghat near Shastri Park are also likely to witness heavy footfall. Slow movement of traffic is anticipated near Geeta Colony, IP Extension and Shastri Park, the advisory said. In Bhajanpura, commercial vehicles will not be allowe

Chhath Puja gives message of unity, cooperation in society: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday greeted citizens on Chhath Puja and said the festival gives the message of unity, cooperation and collective participation in the society. During Chhath Puja, devotees worship and offer 'arghya' to the Sun, she said in a message. "On this festival, we express our gratitude to nature. We worship the rivers and ponds, and pray for the well-being of our families. This festival also conveys a message of cleanliness and environment conservation," the President said. Chhath Puja also gives the message of unity, cooperation and collective participation in the society, Murmu said. "On this sacred occasion, I pray for happiness and prosperity of all citizens," she said, and extended wishes to all her fellow citizens. Chhath Puja, a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, is being celebrated and it will conclude on October 28.

Yamuna cleaner ahead of Chhath, says Delhi minister; AAP rejects claim

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma on Saturday said the Yamuna river's water quality ahead of Chhath was better than last year, citing data on faecal coliform bacteria. Verma, in a joint press conference with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, slammed the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), whose leaders are targeting the BJP government over Yamuna pollution during the Chhath festival. Verma said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) collected Yamuna water samples on October 9 and October 20 from eight points, including Palla, Wazirabad Barrage, Okhla Barrage, ITO, and Yamuna Canal, among others. The faecal coliform bacteria concentration in the Yamuna has come down to 7,900 units per 100 ml at Nizamuddin this year, from 11 lakh units per 100 ml last year, Verma said. The count similarly dipped over the year from 920 to 600 at Palla, from 16,000 to 800 at Wazirabad, and from 35,000 to 7,000 at ITO, he said. They (the opposition) are baffled because our government, le

Rahul Gandhi slams Centre, criticises 'overcrowded' Chhath trains to Bihar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that trains to Bihar are "packed" and tickets impossible to get with the journey becoming "inhuman" during the festive season, as he asserted that "helpless travellers" are a living proof of the "NDA's deceitful policies and intentions". The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said safe and respectable travel is a right, not a favour. "It's a month of festivals - ?Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals mean more than just faith, but also a yearning to return home -? the fragrance of the soil, the affection of family, the warmth of the village," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. But this yearning has now become a struggle, Gandhi said. "Trains to Bihar are packed, tickets are impossible to get, and the journey has become inhuman. Many trains are 200% overloaded -? people are hanging onto doors and roofs," the former Congress leader said. The "failed double-engine" government's claims are hollow, he said. "Wher

PM Modi shares Chhath songs, extends greetings to devotees across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings on the occasion of Chhath, a four-day festival to worship the Sun god celebrated across the country, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP. "With the sacred ritual of 'Nahay-Khay', the four-day grand festival of Chhath begins today. I extend my heartfelt wishes to devotees across Bihar and the entire nation. My respect and salute to all those observing the fast," the prime minister said in a post on X. He also shared a song by noted singer Sharda Sinha, whose soulful renditions add to the festival fervour. Modi said he was in Begusarai on Friday, a place with which Sinha shared a soulful connection. "This magnificent festival of our culture symbolises simplicity and restraint, whose sanctity and adherence to rules are unparalleled. The sights at the Chhath ghats on this auspicious occasion inspire wonderful familial and social harmony. The ancient tradition of Chhath has had a profound impact on our society," Modi

PM Modi urges sharing Chhath songs, says melodies add divine essence

Encouraging citizens to send their favourite Chhath songs, PM Modi said he would share them on his social media platforms over the next few days

Elaborate arrangements at Bihar stations to handle Chhath rush: Railways

Elaborate arrangements have been made in all stations in the Hajipur-headquartered East Central Railway (ECR) zone in view of the heavy rush of passengers during Chhath Puja, a senior official said. ECR General Manager Chhatrasal Singh on Wednesday said the priority of the railways is to facilitate the smooth arrival and departure of travellers, and ensure their safety by preventing any untoward incidents. "The number of Chhath special trains has been increased from 7,500 to 12,000 this year. A large number of people are expected to visit Bihar in the coming days to celebrate Chhath. The preparations for their arrival are already complete. However, the real challenge will arise when they return to their workplaces after the festival," he said. "The window for the return is narrow, but for that too, preparations are in the last stage," he added. Singh said the construction of holding areas at all major terminals will be completed by Thursday night, following which the ECR will condu

Delhi to develop 17 model Chhath ghats, withdraw cases against devotees: CM

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced that her government will develop 17 model Chhath ghats along the Yamuna across Delhi and withdraw all cases registered against devotees for celebrating the festival on the banks of the river. Addressing a press conference here, she said her government aims to ensure that Chhath Puja is celebrated in Delhi with the same grandeur as Diwali. Chhath Puja, a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28 this year. The festival holds special significance for the Purvanchali community, which constitutes a large part of Delhi's population. "In the past, Chhath Puja was not allowed on the banks of the Yamuna but we have allowed it for the devotees this year. We will nullify all the complaints of the past years and withdraw all such cases from our side," Gupta said. She said the government has received more than 1,000 applications from various puja samitis to organise the festi

North Eastern Railway notifies 145 special puja trains for Chhath festival

Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) for North Eastern Railway, Pankaj Kumar Singh, said that special trains are being run in record numbers

Central Railway to run 1,702 special trains for Diwali, Chhath Puja

CPRO added that Extra counters have been set up at major stations for the convenience and safety of the passengers

Delhi CM inspects ghats, reviews Chhath Puja preparations on Yamuna banks

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inspected the Yamuna ghats here to assess arrangements for the forthcoming Chhath Puja. She also took a boat ride on the river. The chief minister, accompanied by Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, directed the officers to ensure proper preparations for the four-day festival likely to be celebrated from October 25-28. Gupta had earlier announced that her government would set up temporary ghats on both sides of the river. However, she made it clear that immersion in the Yamuna waters is not allowed by the courts. Meanwhile, the Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department has identified at least 100 points along the Yamuna River and other areas where temporary arrangements are being made, officials said. The department will be handling the preparation of ghats, while the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will be responsible for suppressing the white foam at Kalindi Kunj, which is an annual occurrence, they said. A part of

Chhath Puja rush: Flying to Patna now pricier than a Bangkok getaway

Airlines have attributed the fare hike to increased operating costs during the holiday season, citing factors such as staffing and logistics

'River is highly polluted': Delhi HC denies Chhath Puja at Yamuna Bank

On the first day of Chhath Puja on Tuesday, many devotees gathered at the Yamuna river for ritual bathing, despite thick layers of toxic foam blanketing the water body

Shehzad Poonawalla accuses AAP's Delhi govt of 'anti-Sanatan mindset'

Chhath puja is being celebrated and even so the pollution level in River Yamuna is on an all time high with toxic foams floating all over, Poonawalla attacked AAP govt

Delhi govt declares public holiday on Nov 7 for Chhath Puja celebrations

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday declared a public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja celebrations.

Folk singer Sharda Sinha on ventilator, PM Modi calls her son Anshuman

Folk singer Sharda Sinha is currently on a ventilator at AIIMS in Delhi. The singer was previously admitted to the hospital on October 27 due to bone marrow cancer

Devotees take holy dip in Ganga at Patna Ghat on first-day of Chhath Puja

The four-day Chhath puja celebrations were observed by devotees on Tuesday morning at the Kalindi Kunj Chhath Ghat in Delhi

Chhath Puja 2024: CAIT estimates Rs 12,000 cr nationwide trade on festival

The surge in Chhath Puja demand for handmade goods and festive clothing boosts job opportunities and supports cottage industries, energising India's local economies