New Delhi [India], November 12 (ANI): Delhi Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra on Thursday credited the ruling BJP for scaling up Chhath Puja celebrations in the capital, contrasting current arrangements with previous administration policies.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration of a newly developed Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal, Mishra accused the former government led by Arvind Kejriwal of restricting the festival near the Yamuna River and imposing bans on Diwali.
“Kejriwal’s government had imposed a ban on Chhath Puja on the banks of Mother Yamuna and a ban on Diwali. Since the BJP government came to power, a grand Chhath Puja was organised last year under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and an even bigger event is being organised this year,” Mishra told reporters.
Following the inauguration of the 11-kilometre-long facility by BJP National President Nitin Naveen and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Mishra described the scale of the site as unprecedented for the city.
“This 11-kilometre-long Chhath ghat has never been built before, and a very beautiful Chhath ghat has been set up on the Munak Canal. This is the power of a vote. It is the strength of the votes the public cast for the BJP that such a grand Chhath Puja is being organised in Delhi,” Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra said.
Earlier today, BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated a Chhath ghat at the Munak canal in Delhi ahead of the four-day festival, with Nabin praising the Delhi government for providing facilities to devotees and saying that people from Purvanchal would no longer face obstacles in celebrating the festival in the national capital.
Addressing the gathering, Nabin described the occasion as special and credited Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with providing a major facility to Chhath devotees and people from Purvanchal.
“She has given a very big gift to all Chhath devotees, all those who believe in Sanatan traditions and the people of Purvanchal,” he said, urging the gathering to applaud the Chief Minister.
Referring to the 11-kilometre stretch of the Munak canal, Nabin said the development had brought significant change to Delhi’s environment and overall atmosphere. He congratulated the Delhi government, its ministers and officials for completing the work in a time-bound manner.He also praised the quality of water in the canal, saying its cleanliness and purity were particularly significant ahead of the festival.
“When I went along the canal just now and saw its sacred, clean water, I was reminded of Chhath. That purity and sanctity are the biggest blessings of this worship,” he said.
Describing Chhath as a festival of discipline, cleanliness and nature worship, Nabin said devotees offered prayers to both the setting and rising sun and observed the four-day festival with strict adherence to purity.
“Some people were calling this paag a cap. They do not understand that this paag is a symbol of respect for Indian culture and Mithila culture,” he said.
Drawing a connection between Chhath and the cleanliness campaign, Nabin urged people to carry the spirit of the festival into their daily lives.”If we imbibe the values of Chhathi Maiya in our lives, the atmosphere of cleanliness and purity that we observe during these four days should remain with us throughout the year,” he said, adding that people should work towards keeping Delhi clean and pure.
Nabin said Chhath brought families and communities together and transcended social divisions.
He further praised the Delhi government for respecting the cultural and religious traditions of people from Purvanchal, adding that the festival was now being celebrated with equal enthusiasm across different communities.
“Earlier, they used to build a Sheesh Mahal for themselves. Building canals, rivers and ponds for the people was not their concern,” he alleged.
Nabin said the Delhi government was working towards cleaning the Yamuna under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I am confident that very soon the entire Yamuna will be made clean and pure, and Chhathi Maiya’s festival will also be celebrated there,” he said.
The four-day Chhath festival will begin on November 13 with the Nahay-Khay ritual. Dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, the festival is observed with deep devotion, with devotees following traditional practices while preparing offerings using earthen utensils and stoves. (ANI)
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