Delhi govt declares public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja celebrations

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Atishi announced on Friday that November 7 will be a public holiday in the capital for the celebration of Chhath Puja .

This decision came after a request from Delhi lieutenant governor V K Saxena , who urged the chief minister to declare a holiday for the festival.

Chhath Puja, a significant Hindu festival, is predominantly celebrated in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is dedicated to the worship of the sun god and involves a rigorous four-day routine of rituals and traditions, including fasting, offering prayers to the rising and setting sun, holy bathing, and meditation while standing in water.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Atishi expressed her happiness over the decision, saying, "I am happy to inform you that the Delhi government has decided to declare a holiday on November 7 for the festival of Chhath, so that all our brothers and sisters of Purvanchal can celebrate the festival with pomp and show." She also shared her signed order confirming the holiday.

मुझे यह बताते हुए ख़ुशी है कि दिल्ली सरकार ने फ़ैसला लिया है कि 7 नवम्बर को छठ के त्यौहार की छुट्टी होगी, कि सभी पूर्वांचली भाई-बहन धूम-धाम से छठ का त्यौहार मना सकें pic.twitter.com/YvQCU5FDbb

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 1, 2024

The official order read, "Chhath Puja is an important festival for the people of NCT of Delhi . Accordingly, the Government of NCT of Delhi has decided to declare November 7, 2024, as a public holiday on account of Chhath Puja."

Earlier in the day, the Raj Niwas Delhi posted on X, noting, "Hon'ble Lt Governor has written to Hon'ble CM, requesting her to move the file for declaring November 7th, 2024, as a public holiday, on account of Chhath Puja." This initiative aims to ensure that the celebrations can be observed fully by the community.