Chhath Puja: UP govt urges people to celebrate festival at home, follow Covid-19 norms

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an advisory for Chhath Puja in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the advisory, the state government has urged people to celebrate the festival at home to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

“People should perform rituals at their homes or nearby, as much as possible,” the advisory said.

Unlike Delhi & Mumbai, UP government hasn’t put any ban on celebrations at Ganga ghats but has sought people’s support and compliance of Covid-19 protocols to contain the deadly virus. It has urged to people to celebrate the festival this year at home, rather than venturing to Ganga ghats.

Uttar Pradesh govt issues advisory for the festival of #ChhathPuja in the wake of #COVID19

Devotees be urged to perform rituals at their homes or near their homes, as much as possible. Arrangements be made by local admn at the traditional spots near rivers/ponds for the puja. pic.twitter.com/ig5n4cTeVL

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 18, 2020

It said that the arrangements have been made by the local administration at the traditional spots near rivers/ponds for the puja. People must follow COVID-19 protocols like wearing masks and abide by social distancing, stated the government.

CM Yogi greets people on Chhath Parv

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took to Twitter to congratulate the devotees on Chhath Mahaparv.

“Coronavirus hasn’t vanished. It has weakened but it’s still there. Prevention is the most effective method to counter this menace,” tweeted CM Yogi while making an appeal to people to observe festival at home.

प्रकृति के प्रति वंदनीय भाव के प्रतीक,लोक आस्था के महापर्व “छठ पूजा” के प्रथम व्रत “नहाए-खाए” की आप सभी को शुभकामनाएं।

कोरोना अभी पूरी तरह समाप्त नहीं हुआ है, कमजोर हुआ है।

बचाव ही सर्वोत्तम उपाय है।

पूर्व के त्योहारों की भांति छठ भी घर पर ही मनाने का प्रयास करें।

जय छठी मईया

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 18, 2020

Chhath Mahaparv, dedicated to the Lord Sun, is one of the most popular festivals for the people of Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh or Purvanchal. Devotees gather and take a holy dip in rivers, ponds, and other water bodies during the four-day festivities from November 19 to 20.

Chhath puja is mainly observed by the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, and bordering areas in Uttar Pradesh, and it will be celebrated on November 20. This year, the main celebration is on November 20 when devotees will offer evening ‘argha’ to Sun God.