Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on Friday that November 7 will be declared a public holiday in observance of Chhath Puja, allowing Poorvanchali residents to celebrate the festival with enthusiasm. This decision came shortly after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena urged the government to formalize the holiday, which was previously designated as a restricted holiday.
In her announcement on social media platform X, Atishi stated, “I am happy to inform you that the Delhi government has decided to declare a holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja.” The official order emphasized the importance of the festival for the people of Delhi.
Previously, the L-G’s letter highlighted that November 7 was marked as a restricted holiday, which is voluntary for employees. The new declaration means that all government employees will be entitled to a day off, ensuring broader participation in the festivities.
Chhath Puja is a significant festival for the Poorvanchali community, with the third day of the celebration being the most important, during which women make offerings to the Sun God. The festival will commence four days from Friday, leading up to this key day.
With Delhi Assembly elections approaching in three months, this holiday declaration is seen as a strategic move by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to engage the Poorvanchali electorate, who represent about one-third of the city’s 1.53 crore voters.
While the AAP is positioning itself positively with this announcement, it faces criticism from opposition parties. The BJP and Congress have condemned the government for insufficient arrangements for the festival. Recently, Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva highlighted the poor condition of the Yamuna River by taking a dip in its polluted waters to draw attention to the issue. Similarly, Congress Delhi Chief Devender Yadav criticized the AAP for failing to clean the water bodies, claiming that devotees will be forced to celebrate in polluted conditions.
As the festival approaches, the focus remains on whether adequate preparations will be made to ensure a safe and celebratory environment for the thousands who will participate in Chhath Puja.
