Four-day Chhath Puja begins: all facilities in place, says CM; tents few, ghats dirty: Oppn.

NEW DELHI Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said preparations for Chhath Puja in Delhi were complete and that she was personally monitoring the arrangements to ensure that every devotee observing the fast has access to a safe, clean and convenient environment for offering prayers. The four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God began on Friday.

It is observed by Purvanchalis and other communities in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress questioned the state of preparations, claiming that the arrangements were far from satisfactory and accusing the government of “playing with the faith” of the Purvanchali community in Delhi.

Schools off on Monday Meanwhile, the Directorate of Education (DoE) on Friday announced that schools in Delhi will remain closed on November 16 on account of the festival. The holiday will be observed in all government, government-aided and recognised unaided private schools, as per the DoE circular.