Delhi High Court says no to Chhath Puja on ‘polluted’ Yamuna banks

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to allow devotees to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of Yamuna here due to severe water contamination and the presence of toxic foam, which, it said, could lead to people falling sick.

A public interest litigation (PIL) had been filed challenging the ban on performing the ritual at the riverbank, seeking permission to conduct the puja at its traditional location along the Yamuna. However, the court refused to issue any directions, emphasising the hazardous condition of the river water.

“The river is highly polluted, and allowing people to take a dip in it could lead to serious health issues,” said the Bench, led by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The court also referred to a recent incident where a person fell ill after taking a dip in the polluted Yamuna water and required hospitalisation.

In its ruling, the court stated that there are more than 1,000 designated alternative locations across Delhi where devotees can safely perform the puja, with all necessary arrangements in place to accommodate the celebrations. “We cannot allow people to perform the ritual in the Yamuna as the water is so polluted that it could cause harm. There are other ghats and safe locations where the puja can be held,” the Bench stressed.

The court’s decision came as the four-day Chhath festival began in the Capital with the traditional ‘Nahay Khay’ ritual on Tuesday. The festival, dedicated to the Sun God, typically sees thousands of devotees gathering on the banks of the Yamuna river to perform holy baths and offer prayers. This year, however, the sight of toxic foam along the riverbanks, particularly near Kalindi Kunj, disrupted the religious atmosphere, as large numbers of devotees had gathered to offer their prayers.

The HC ruling highlighted the urgent need for improved sanitation and pollution control in the Yamuna, which has been a longstanding environmental concern for the Capital.

MLA Abhay Verma lays foundation stone of permanent ghat in Laxmi Nagar

New Delhi: Abhay Verma, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Laxmi Nagar, laid the foundation stone of a permanent Chhath Ghat next to the Dhobi Ghat in the Ganesh Nagar Complex on Chhath Mahaparv on Wednesday. The project, funded by the Flood Control and Irrigation Department, is expected to cost Rs 53.3 lakh. Verma said the new ghat would improve the facilities available for the Purvanchali community during the Chhath festival.