Delhi Declares 1.5-Day Public Holiday for Chhath Puja
In a historic move, the Delhi Government has announced a 1.5-day public holiday for Chhath Puja, a major festival celebrated by people from Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta declared that all government offices will close at 2 PM on October 27 and remain shut for the entire day on October 28.
The decision, hailed as a gesture towards the Purvanchali community, marks a major shift from the previous single-day holiday. CM Gupta stated that Chhath Puja will be celebrated “with the same grandeur as Diwali,” highlighting the importance of the festival for Delhi’s cultural diversity.
The government is constructing model Chhath ghats at 17 key locations along the Yamuna River, stretching from Palla to Kalindi Kunj. Each district will have at least one model ghat, with facilities like welcome gates, cultural programs, cleanliness drives, and tight security. Over 1,000 applications have been received for organizing the puja, showing growing enthusiasm among devotees.
CM Gupta also announced the withdrawal of all 2021 cases filed against devotees during a previous Chhath ban. Minister Kapil Mishra confirmed that all FIRs related to that incident will be cancelled.
The timing of this decision coincides with the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, and analysts believe the move will strengthen the government’s connection with the city’s nearly 5 lakh Purvanchali voters.
