Protests in Delhi’s Geeta Colony Over Dry Artificial Ghats During Chhath Puja
In New Delhi’s Geeta Colony, devotees expressed their frustration as the artificial ghats, constructed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for Chhath Puja, remained dry. The devotees protested, chanting slogans and voicing their discontent over the inability to perform Sandhya Puja, which involves offering ‘Arghya’ to Lord Surya.
One devotee questioned the Delhi government’s arrangements, stating, “Why did they create all these facilities if they weren’t going to provide water? We could have celebrated the festival at home. We’ll continue our protest if water is not supplied.” Another devotee expressed anger, suggesting they could have performed the rituals on rooftops using tubs filled with water, accusing the government of “insulting” the devotees.
Earlier, Delhi CM Atishi mentioned that the government built ghats across the city to help Purvanchali residents feel connected to their roots. “These Chhath Ghats have been built across the city so our Purvanchali brothers and sisters never feel far from home,” CM Atishi said.
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival involving strict rituals and fasting to thank the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth. It is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, as well as by the diaspora from these regions. The festival began with Nahay-Khay and will conclude with Usha Arghya on November 8.
Doubts Revealed
Geeta Colony -: Geeta Colony is a neighborhood in Delhi, the capital city of India. It’s a place where many people live and work.
Artificial Ghats -: Artificial ghats are man-made platforms or steps near water bodies where people can perform religious rituals. In this case, they were built for Chhath Puja.
Chhath Puja -: Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated mainly in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and also in Nepal. It involves fasting and offering prayers to the Sun.
AAP government -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party, a political party in India. They are currently in charge of the government in Delhi.
Sandhya Puja -: Sandhya Puja is an evening prayer ritual performed during Chhath Puja. It is an important part of the festival where devotees offer prayers to the setting sun.
Delhi CM Atishi -: Atishi is a leader from the Aam Aadmi Party and is currently serving as a minister in the Delhi government. CM stands for Chief Minister, but in this context, it seems to be a mistake as Atishi is not the Chief Minister.
Purvanchali residents -: Purvanchali refers to people from the Purvanchal region, which includes parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar. Many Purvanchali people live in Delhi and celebrate Chhath Puja.
