Delhiites celebrating Chhath Puja flocked to the Yamuna ghats, lakes and canals in the national capital from early afternoon to offer prayers to the Sun God on Tuesday, the third day of the festival.
Delhiites celebrating Chhath Puja flocked to the Yamuna ghats, lakes and canals in the national capital from early afternoon to offer prayers to the Sun God on Tuesday, the third day of the festival.
Married women, fasting for over 38 hours, stood in knee-deep water and prayed for the well-being and prosperity of their families as part of the four-day festival.
Prayers were offered at more than 50 major sites across the national capital. The devotees thronged to Soor Ghat, Geeta Ghat ne-ar ISBT, Purvi Ghat, Hathi Ghat, Kudesiya Ghat, Shy-am Ghat, Yamuna Ghat and Kalindi Kunj Ghat, among others on the Yamuna.
The Delhi government and municipal corporations had made safety arrangements, including makeshift pandals, sandbanks, floodlights and barricades, at the ghats.
The Delhi police used a helicopter to monitor the traffic situation around ghats. “Once again we have used a helicopter to monitor and regulate traffic in Delhi, especially around the ghats and the roads leading to them,” said special commissioner of police (traffic) Muktesh Chander, who was present in the helicopter supervising the operation. The live traffic situations were being reported to the control room and the details were made available to the public through the police helpline.
It is third time when the police used a helicopter for monitoring the traffic. In October, the Delhi police had used a helicopter to monitor traffic snarls on the occasion of Durga idol immersion. It was the first time when a helicopter was used by the police to tackle traffic problems. Second time the police used the helicopter on the evening of Diwali. A senior police official said that it was successful and hence they had decided to use helicopter on the occasion of Chhath Puja. “Under this initiative, officials keep watch on the traffic scenario and inform personnel in the field through the wireless system,” said a senior official.
However, traffic congestion was reported in several parts of the city including ITO, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Outer Ring Road, and Dabri Marg in Southeast Delhi.
