As the sun prepares to set on the eve of Chhath Puja, the ghats of Delhi are coming alive with colors, prayers, and a sense of deep devotion. The four-day festival, which honors the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth, is not just a spiritual celebration — it’s also a festival of health, harmony, and gratitude toward nature.

This year, the Delhi Government has gone all out to make the celebrations safe and memorable. More than 1,000 Chhath Ghats across the city have been cleaned and decorated, complete with arrangements for lighting, sanitation, and safety. Several local organizations and volunteers have stepped forward to ensure that devotees can perform rituals peacefully.

At Waterbody Park in Tahirpur, East Delhi, the Purvanchal Mithilanchal Jeevan Jyoti Seva Samiti, led by Dr. Rakesh Raman Jha, has been organizing the festival on a grand scale for the last ten years. Thanking Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for declaring a public holiday on the occasion, Dr. Jha expressed heartfelt gratitude.

“Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has shown deep respect for the sentiments of Purvanchal residents. Her decision reflects Delhi’s unity in diversity. Chhath Puja is not merely a ritual of faith — it is a message of environmental protection and gratitude toward nature,”

said Dr. Rakesh Raman Jha, Founder of the Purvanchal Mithilanchal Jeevan Jyoti Seva Samiti.

The Festival of the Sun and Health

Chhath Puja, celebrated over four days — Nahay-Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya, — is unique in the world for its worship of both the rising and setting sun. Women devotees, known as vratin, stand waist-deep in water during sunrise and sunset to offer their prayers.

Beyond spirituality, doctors say the festival also promotes mental peace, detoxification, and physical discipline. The fasting and water rituals help cleanse the body, while the early morning exposure to sunlight provides natural vitamin D, boosting immunity and bone health.

“Chhath is a reminder that our festivals were always designed around the principles of health, balance, and respect for nature,” Dr. Jha added.

A Festival Deeply Rooted in Nature

Every part of Chhath Puja connects humans with the five natural elements — earth, water, fire, air, and sky. The offerings include seasonal fruits, sugarcane, turmeric, ginger, and the traditional Thekua, a simple handmade sweet made from wheat and jaggery.

Even the rituals — performed without loud music, plastics, or artificial decorations — emphasize cleanliness, eco-friendliness, and gratitude to the environment. The ghats, decorated with diyas and flowers, reflect India’s age-old message of living in harmony with nature.

Community Spirit Shines Bright

In East Delhi, the festive energy is contagious. Volunteers and social workers, including Sunhari Lal Yadav, Dr. Chandradeep, Vijay Verma, Rajdev, Satyendra Kumar, Krishnakant, Situ Kumar, and Vinay Tiwari, have been tirelessly cleaning and decorating the ghats.

Similarly, Sunil Jha, founder of the Purani Seemapuri Chhath Puja Committee, has been managing the festival for over 25 years, ensuring devotees celebrate in a safe and clean environment.

Dr. Jha shared that officials from both the Delhi Government and Central Government have been visiting ghats to ensure smooth coordination, crowd management, and public safety.