Chhath Puja fervour grips national capital

As the sun dipped behind Delhi’s skyline on Monday, thousands of devotees thronged Yamuna ghats among others to offer prayers (Sandhya Arghya) to the setting sun and Chhathi Maiya, marking one of the most significant rituals of the four-day Chhath festival.

The air along the river was thick with chants, devotional songs and the fragrance of incense. Women, draped in vibrant red and yellow sarees and their foreheads adorned with streaks of sindoor stretching to their hairlines, carried baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane and ‘thekua’ as they reached the ghats. Men, too, joined in with many balancing offerings over their heads as they made their way to the riverbanks prepared by the government.

Hours before sunset, crowds began streaming into ghats like ITO, Sonia Vihar and Kashmere Gate. Many arrived in pick-up trucks and mini tempos loaded with puja material, hoping to secure space before the rituals began.

“My family has been living in Karol Bagh for over 20 years, and we have always come to the ghats for Chhath,” said Rava Devi, standing at Kashmere Gate ghat in a red saree. “This year, there’s proper space and arrangement. Last year, we barely had room to perform the rituals. Now, it feels organised and peaceful,” she said.

The ghats were adorned with lights, marigold garlands and colorful cloth canopies. Hues of red, yellow and green colours were visible with the devotees arriving at the ghats wearing various colours. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had set up an incident command post, while sanitation camps were seen operating nearby. Police officers and civic staff patrolled the ghats, ensuring the rituals proceeded smoothly amid the massive turnout.

At ITO Ghat, 68-year-old Harshad Shah recalled how the celebrations have transformed over decades. “I’ve been coming here for over 50 years. Back then, there were just three of us. Last year, we weren’t even allowed in the Yamuna, only in artificial ponds. This year, the scale and devotion are incredible. We don’t care what else the government does, but bringing back the real celebration to the river is something special for us (Biharis),” he said, smiling as he prepared his offerings.

At Sonia Vihar, the ghat reopened for the first time since the Covid pandemic, welcoming back devotees with full fervour. MCD workers could be seen installing makeshift changing rooms while families sculpted clay mounds on the banks and prepared their offerings. Devotees could be seen arriving at the ghat with smiles on their faces as they prepared to do the rituals and puja.

For many, Chhath Puja is a homecoming, a time to return to ancestral villages and family courtyards. But for Kunti Devi, 56, who couldn’t travel to Bihar this year, Delhi’s ghats became her place of solace. “Every year I go home to celebrate, but this time I couldn’t,” she said, arranging fruits and coconuts neatly in a bamboo basket. “Still, it feels festive. Arrangements here are good and it feels like home by the river.”

As dusk deepened, songs praising the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya filled the air, echoing through the riverbanks. “It’s a festive atmosphere,” said Asha Devi, smiling amid the crowd. “There are all kinds of fruits, sweets, and offerings. Everything feels pure and joyful,” she said.