Chhath Puja 2021: Allow celebrations on Yamuna banks, AAP MLA writes to Delhi LG

In a letter to the Lieutenant Governor, Jha said that the Chhath Puja festival cannot cause pollution in the river as the devotees clean the ghats (river banks) to perform the rituals. He also sought an appointment with the LG to discuss the issue with him.

“I have requested the Lieutenant Governor to allow Chhath Puja on the banks of river Yamuna as people who believe in Chhath Puja clean the ghats and rivers before performing the rituals,” Jha said. .

It has been stated by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) that Chhath Puja celebrations will be allowed only at designated places in the city except on the banks of river Yamuna.

In his letter to the Lieutenant Governor, the AAP leader mentioned that the DDMA has said that Chhath Puja cannot be celebrated on the banks of Yamuna. “Whereas, every year, the Purvanchalis of Delhi perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna,” he argued.

Jha said the divisional commissioner told him in a meeting that Chhath Puja cannot be celebrated on the banks of Yamuna as it increases the pollution level in the river as happens during Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja celebrations.

In his letter to Baijal, the AAP MLA said, “I would like to inform you that idol immersion takes place in the river on the days of Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja, whereas Chhath Puja is a festival celebrated entirely in collaboration with nature.”

The festival of Chhath Puja will be allowed only at designated places outside the containment zones with requisite permission from the District Magistrate. The DDMA order on Friday said that no site will be designated on the banks of river Yamuna. The DDMA had on Wednesday given its approval for Chhath Puja in Delhi.

The authority further said that the designated sites would be identified and managed by the concerned District Magistrate in coordination with the concerned departments and agencies.

The order said that the puja material offered by the devotees at the designated places should be collected by the concerned municipal authorities and other concerned agencies in a scientific manner for immediate and proper disposal.

The DDMA order said, “All devotees shall be strictly prohibited from throwing worship materials like food grains, oil etc. into the Yamuna river. It shall be ensured that no such material is allowed to join the main stream of the river at any point of time.” Not allowed.”

This year the four-day Chhath Puja is on November 8-11.

with agency input