New Delhi, 15 November (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta offered Arghya to the setting Sun at the Yamuna Chhath Ghat in Sonia Vihar on Sunday and performed rituals in worship of Chhathi Maiya, praying for the happiness, prosperity and good health of all residents of the national capital.

The event, held along the banks of the Yamuna, witnessed the participation of a large number of devotees who gathered to offer prayers to Chhathi Maiya amid an atmosphere filled with faith, devotion and vibrant folk traditions. Traditional attire, Chhath songs, illuminated lamps and ritual offerings arranged in bamboo baskets lent the ghats a distinctly devotional and festive ambience.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also travelled by boat to inspect the Chhath ghats developed along the Yamuna and review the arrangements made for devotees. During her visit, she greeted devotees observing the Chhath fast and other worshippers at various ghats and extended her warm wishes on the occasion of the festival.

Extending her greetings on the occasion of the evening Arghya, CM Gupta said that the tradition of offering prayers to the setting Sun during Chhath, a festival rooted in popular faith, was a remarkable expression of gratitude towards nature and the profound values of India's Sanatan cultural heritage.

The Chief Minister prayed to Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya that the devotion and spiritual observances of all those observing the fast be rewarded, and that every household be blessed with happiness, prosperity and good health.

She said Chhath Mahaparva was not merely a religious occasion but a unique celebration of faith, discipline, cleanliness, dedication and social harmony. The festival instilled a deep sense of respect for nature and the environment, she added. The age-old tradition of worshipping both the setting and the rising Sun conveyed the message of expressing gratitude for every phase of life.

CM Gupta observed that Chhath was a festival in which not only families but entire communities came together to participate in prayers and rituals. This spirit of collective participation and the richness of folk culture made the festival particularly special, she said.

The Chief Minister further said that Delhi was home to people from every part of the country, and the Purvanchal community had made a significant contribution to the capital's development through its hard work, dedication and commitment.

She said the Delhi Government was committed to ensuring that people from Purvanchal living in the capital felt a sense of belonging and received adequate facilities to celebrate their festivals and traditions just as they would in their hometowns. Since Chhath was deeply intertwined with their faith and cultural identity, the government was determined to provide devotees with better ghats, a clean environment and essential amenities for performing the rituals.

CM Gupta said that, in keeping with this commitment, the Delhi Government had developed improved arrangements for Chhath celebrations along the banks of the Yamuna. The development of a Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal in North Delhi was another significant initiative aimed at respecting the long-standing demands and sentiments of the Purvanchal community.

She added that the government's endeavour was to provide well-equipped and properly organised ghats in different parts of the capital so that devotees would not have to travel long distances to perform their religious rituals.

The Chief Minister also acknowledged that people naturally wished to return to their home states and be with their families during festivals. Keeping this in mind, the Delhi Government had arranged special bus services between Delhi and Bihar to enable people from Purvanchal and Bihar to travel to their hometowns conveniently, celebrate the festival with their families and return to the capital without difficulty.

She emphasised that the government's objective extended beyond providing basic facilities; it was equally important to make every Purvanchali family feel that Delhi, too, was their home.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar