New Delhi: Despite the toxic foam floating on the polluted Yamuna river, devotees continued with their Chhath Puja celebrations at Kalindi Kunj, offering ‘Araghya’ to the rising sun on Monday morning. The foam, caused by the high phosphate content in the river, poses a risk to the health of the devotees, potentially causing skin and respiratory problems.
In Ranchi, Jharkhand, devotees also performed the rituals, offering prayers to the sun while standing in knee-deep water. The four-day Chhath Puja festival, which signifies purity, goodwill, and faith, concluded on Monday morning as devotees broke their 36-hour fast and offered ‘Araghya’.
Chhath Puja is a popular festival celebrated in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bengal. It is also observed in the national capital, where a significant number of people from these states reside. The festival is believed to have originated in the hilly regions of Nepal after the restoration of democracy in 1990.
During the fasting period, devotees consume only pure foods and maintain utmost cleanliness. Women play a prominent role in the festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and serves as a break from daily household chores.
(Note: This story has been published from a syndicated feed without any edits by NDTV staff.)
