Over 150 ghats decked up in Indore for Chhath Puja:Devotees to offer Arghya from October 25; three lakh expected at ghats to worship setting and rising sun

As the lights of Diwali fade, the land of Malwa is now illuminated by the faith and devotion of Purvanchal’s Chhath Puja. Across Indore, thousands of families from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh are busy preparing for the four-day festival of Sun worship. Traditional Bhojpuri folk songs echo through colonies and neighbourhoods, filling the city with a deeply devotional spirit. The Mahaparv Chhath Puja will commence on Saturday, October 25, with Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna on Sunday, October 26. On Monday, October 27, devotees will stand in ponds and water bodies to offer Arghya to the setting sun, and on Tuesday, October 28, the festival will conclude with morning offerings to the rising sun. Over 150 ghats across Indore prepared for ritual offerings According to the Poorvottar Sanskritik Sansthan (Madhya Pradesh), this year more than 150 ghats have been prepared across the city for devotees to perform rituals. These include major locations like Scheme No. 54, 78, Banganga, Sukhlia, Shyam Nagar, Tulsi Nagar, Samar Park, Amrit Palace, Pipliyahana, Kalani Nagar, Nipania, Sirpur, Khajrana, Dewas Naka, Aerodrome Road, Rau, and Pithampur. Sansthan’s president Thakur Jagdish Singh and general secretary KK Jha informed that local Chhath Puja committees have taken charge of cleaning, decorating, and maintaining each ghat. All committees are working round the clock to ensure that no devotee faces any inconvenience. they said. Though some devotees have travelled back to Bihar due to the state elections scheduled for November 6, around 2.5 to 3 lakh people are still expected to participate in the celebrations in Indore this year. Public holiday demanded on Chhath Puja evening The Poorvottar Sanskritik Sansthan has requested the state government to declare a public holiday on October 27, the day of Sandhya Arghya (evening offering). Chhath Puja is no longer confined to Bihar or Purvanchal, it has become a national and global festival. the Sansthan said. It also noted that several states have already declared official holidays for Chhath, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced efforts to include Chhath Puja in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, further elevating the festival’s stature. Permanent ghats requested at major water bodies Given the growing number of devotees each year, the association has urged the district administration and Indore Municipal Corporation to build permanent and grand Chhath ghats at Pipliyahana, Nipania, Sirpur, Khajrana, Tigriya Badshah, and Pipliyapala lakes. This will make the annual organization more convenient and enhance the grandeur of the celebration. said Thakur Jagdish Singh. IMC completes preparations at all major ghats Under the direction of Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, MIC member Rajendra Rathore, and municipal officers, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has completed cleaning, painting, lighting, and water purification work across all major ghats and public parks. Mayor Bhargav inspected preparations at Vijay Nagar ghat along with officials and members of the Eastern Cultural Association. He said, The entire city celebrates Chhath together. Following Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav’s instructions, special arrangements have been made at two major ghats to ensure safety, cleanliness, and proper facilities for devotees. City set to host 3 lakh devotees With nearly 3 lakh devotees expected to participate, the IMC has deployed sanitation staff, security personnel, water tankers, and lighting teams across the city. Barricading, medical facilities, and waste management systems have also been established for crowd control and cleanliness. Mayor Bhargav extended his greetings to the Purvanchal community and all citizens, saying, Chhath Puja is not just a festival, it’s a reflection of discipline, purity, and shared devotion. Indore stands united in celebrating this sacred occasion with faith and harmony.