MUMBAI: The Congress on Saturday urged Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow Chhath Puja and direct the BMC to construct artificial ponds for the puja across the city.
In a letter to CM Thackeray, Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap said that the BMC should provide artificial ponds for the puja.
The BMC has allowed Chhath Puja celebrations this year in Mumbai but has asked devotees to ‘avoid’ beaches and sea shores. The BMC has instead urged devotees to celebrate the festival in a low key or limited manner and perform the puja at artificial ponds and asked the police to ensure that there is no crowding at beaches.
"Keeping in mind the crowds at sea shores during Chhath Puja, it is possible to practice Covid-19 norms like social distancing. So mass celebration of Chhath Puja at sea shores should be avoided and the police must ensure that there is now crowding. Organisations that are asking for permissions at the ward level should construct artificial ponds at their own cost and even fill up the ponds after Chhath Puja is over. This will be the responsibility of the applying organisation,” the BMC’s circular states.
Chhath Puja, which will start on November 10 and end the next morning, is mostly celebrated by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh natives. Women fast and pray to the sun and Chhathi Devi for the long life and well being of their husbands and children.
Chhath Puja is celebrated by people from North India, so keeping the Covid-19 restrictions in mind, I urge you to personally look into the issue and direct the BMC to construct artificial ponds,” Jagtap said in his letter.
Congress functionary Suraj Singh Thakur said, “Just like the BMC makes arrangements for Ganpati visarjan, the BMC must also make arrangements for Chhath Puja. There are over 30 lakh North Indians in Mumbai so the BMC must make all the arrangements for them. The BMC must also allow the festival to be celebrated in a limited manner just like Ganpati visarjan. The North Indian community should not be discriminated against.”
