New Delhi, 27 Oct (UNI) Amid glowing diyas, devotional songs, and prayers to the setting sun, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today led Delhi’s Chhath Mahaparv celebrations across multiple ghats, marking the capital’s most elaborate observances of the festival in recent years.
Calling Chhath “a festival that binds faith, nature, and culture together,” the Chief Minister joined devotees in offering arghya (water oblation) to the Sun God and prayed to Chhathi Maiya for “the happiness, peace, and prosperity of all Delhiites.”
“This festival is a reminder of how faith and discipline can unite communities,” Gupta said, speaking at Mangolpuri’s Chhath Park, where she began her evening. “For the first time, Delhi is witnessing Chhath Mahaparv on such a divine and magnificent scale. It shows how our city embraces all cultures with open arms.”
Accompanied by senior leaders and officers, the Chief Minister visited multiple sites, including Sonia Vihar Pushta, Sports Complex Ghat, Ram Ghat, Shyam Ghat, and finally Vasudev Ghat at Kashmiri Gate.
At each stop, she interacted with devotees, lit diyas, and participated in the rituals. At Vasudev Ghat, Gupta watched cultural performances of traditional Bhojpuri folk songs and dances and commended the artists for “keeping the spirit of folk traditions alive in the heart of the capital.”
She added, “Chhath is not just about worship—it’s about gratitude towards nature, self-discipline, and the celebration of life’s balance.”
BJP leader Ashish Sood, who joined the celebrations at various Ghats in Janakpuri, said the Delhi government’s arrangements for Chhath this year reflected the Delhi Government’s commitment to celebrate all religious and community festivals with equal respect and support.
“The scale of arrangements this year is unprecedented,” Sood added. “Whether it’s lighting, cleanliness, or medical support, the government ensured that devotees could perform their rituals with dignity and devotion.”
He added that the festival also strengthens Delhi’s cultural unity. Chhath has now become part of Delhi’s collective identity. It belongs not to one region but to every Delhiite who believes in the power of faith and gratitude, he further stated.
At his residence in Windsor Place, Delhi MP Parvesh Verma joined hundreds of devotees gathered along the Chhath constructed within his premises. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “Chhath Puja is not just a ritual, but a symbol of faith, discipline, and gratitude toward nature. I wanted to celebrate this sacred festival with the people of my constituency, like one big family. That is the true spirit of our festivals.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, women clad in bright saris stood knee-deep in the water, holding bamboo baskets loaded with fruits and offering water to the setting sun.
Chief Minister Gupta concluded her visit at Kashmiri Gate’s Vasudev Ghat, where she offered arghya to the setting sun and expressed hope for peace and prosperity in the capital.
“The very name of Chhath evokes images of faith, purity, culture, folk songs, and devotion — a festival symbolising not only self-purification and discipline but also the divine balance and gratitude between humans and nature,” she said.
With 17 model ghats illuminated and thousands of devotees joining the rituals, Delhi’s Chhath Mahaparv this year stood as a symbol of unity, devotion, and cultural harmony—an embodiment of the city’s spirit where faith meets fellowship.
