Delhi government is trying to purify the Yamuna River before Chhath Puja by spraying anti-foaming chemicals to reduce the froth.
The four-day celebrations of Chhath Puja started on Friday in different parts of the country with the traditional Nahay Khay ceremony. During this festival, devotees take a dip in the holy water and worship the Sun.
The River Yamuna is frothing with toxicity making it risky for Chhath Puja
to The Delhi government set out to try to purify the Yamuna River before Chhath Puja by spraying anti-foaming chemicals to reduce the froth and BJP officials called out Kejriwal’s government over the usage of ‘poisonous chemicals’ to reduce the toxic froth.
During this time, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V K Saxena using his authority has declared a ‘dry day’ on the occasion of Chhath Puja and has also written a letter to CM Arvind Kejriwal asking him to deal with the issue of toxic froth in Yamuna before the festival.
However, as opinions go, it is a bit too late to try to purify the river just before the festival and people say this should have been accomplished long ago.
#Delhi LG V K Saxena using his special powers has declared 'dry day' on the occasion of #Chhath and has also written a letter to CM Arvind Kejriwal asking him to deal with the issue of toxic froth in Yamuna before the festival https://t.co/q0npC5rX4Y
— HT Delhi (@htdelhi) October 28, 2022
Terrible toxic foam covers large parts of the Yamuna River ahead of the puja.
#ChhathPuja2022 | Toxic foam covers sections of #Yamuna in #Delhi ahead of #ChhathPuja
For more videos, click here https://t.co/6ddeGFqedQ pic.twitter.com/d0N0kreWDQ
— DNA (@dna) October 28, 2022
In other parts of India, celebrations are on and artists and students of Bihar displayed a grand 21 feet long, and 15 feet wide Chhath puja painting of Draupadi and Goddess Sita on the Ganga.
Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival which is observed over four days starts with the ‘Nahai Khai’ ritual, the following day Kharna is observed, the third day ‘Sandhya Arghya’, and ends with ‘Usha Arghya’ (prayers to the rising sun).
Chhath is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God whom worshipers believe sustains all life on Earth. This year the festival will be celebrated between October 28 and 31.
Here are some facts about the festival
The festival is celebrated to worship the Hindu God Sun.
The one who observes a fast during chhath is called vrati.
Chhath sees devotees praying at the riverbank during sunrise and sunset. During this period, solar energy has the lowest level of ultraviolet radiation.
The first day is referred to as nahai khai. The puja starts by taking a dip in the holy Ganges and worshiping the Sun God. Later, kaddu-bhaat (pumpkin curry and rice) along with channa dal is cooked and consumed.
On the first day, devotees are not allowed to eat anything except the morning meal and it is continued until the next day’s evening (kharna) when they eat kheer, chapatis, and fruits. The second day is referred to as Lohand.
The third day is called pehla argha/sandhya argha. On this day, people observe fast and do not eat anything for the whole day. The sun is worshiped and argha is offered in the evening.
The final day – doosra argha/suryoday argha – witnessed devotees giving argha and worshiping the sun early in the morning. Afterwards, devotees break their fast (paran) by consuming the Chhath Prasad including kheer, sweets, thekua and fruits.
Rice, wheat, fresh fruits, dry fruits, coconut, nuts, jaggery and dollops of ghee go are used to prepared traditional chhath meals as well as Chhath Prasad.
Onion and garlic is neither cooked nor eaten during these four days. Meals, especially the Chhath Prasad, are prepared strictly without onion, garlic, and salt.
The festival also celebrates the new harvest and Surya Devta is offered fruits and food prepared using the fresh harvest.