Grand preparations for Chhath Puja complete at Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Riverfront

Extensive preparations for the celebration of the Chhath festival have been completed at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. According to a report by 'Aaj Tak', there is a strong possibility that more than 25,000 devotees will gather on the banks of the Sabarmati river for the evening prayers on the occasion of Chhath Puja this year. There is great enthusiasm among the devotees regarding this holy festival, and all necessary arrangements have been ensured by the administration.

Mahendra Jha, Chairman of the Chhath Mahaparv Organizing Committee, while providing information on this, stated that Chhath Puja is organized on a very large scale at the Sabarmati Riverfront every year. This year too, a large number of devotees will be present on the riverbank to worship the Sun God. Approximately 10 lakh people from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal reside in Ahmedabad. Many people from this community are unable to go to their native places during the Chhath Puja festival. Keeping the convenience of such devotees in mind, special arrangements for Chhath Puja have been made at more than 10 different locations in Ahmedabad city.

Mahendra Jha has been associated with the organization of Chhath Puja in Ahmedabad for the last 25 years. Shedding light on the historical aspects of this festival, he stated that the initiative of the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi was very important in determining a specific and suitable place for Chhath Puja on the banks of the Sabarmati river. Subsequently, the approval to develop this ghat was given during the tenure of Anandiben Patel, while the ghat was formally inaugurated during the tenure of the Vijay Rupani government. In this way, after years of efforts, a well-organized place is available to the devotees for worship today.

Chhath Puja is an extremely holy folk festival mainly dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. During this festival, devotees observe a waterless fast and offer Arghya to the Sun. Preparations for this festival are in full swing from Delhi to Gujarat. An 11-kilometer-long ghat has been prepared on the banks of the Munak canal in Delhi, where special arrangements for cleanliness, lighting, and security have been made. Similarly, in Ahmedabad, all facilities have been provided for devotees at the Sabarmati Riverfront so that they can express their faith peacefully.

Chhath Puja is an important festival of Indian culture, which is celebrated with great faith and devotion, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, and the eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh. Worship of the Sun God, who is considered the source of life and energy, has special significance in this festival. Traditionally, this festival lasts for four days, during which rituals like Nahay-Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya are performed. For years, this festival has been a symbol of social unity and faith, where people gather on the banks of rivers or ponds to pray collectively. For the migrant devotees living in Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati Riverfront has become the main center for celebrating this festival, where a continuous increase in the number of devotees is seen every year.