Nagpur: As the North Indian community braces for Chhat Puja celebration, Nagpur Municipal Corporation too embarked on making various arrangements at Ambazari and Futala Lakes. The places are thronged by thousands of Bihari and other North Indian devotees for the significant festival that is being celebrated this year on Sunday, November 6, the sixth day after Diwali.
As Chhat is about worshipping the Sun, women who keep a 36-hour fast begin it with offering of water or aragh to the setting Sun and finish it off with a similar offering to rising sun the next day. The fast is observed for health and prosperity of the family. Women place fruits, vegetables, sugarcane and wheat preparation called Thekua on a bamboo tray. This tray is carried near a water body and women hold it as they stand in water to offer prayers first to the setting Sun and then early morning to rising Sun.
The Mayor Pravin Datke on Thursday personally visited Ambazari and Futala Lakes and reviewed various arrangements being made by NMC for the upcoming Chhat Puja. He asked the concerned officials to ensure that the devotees are provided with all facilities and did not face any hardships. The Mayor was accompanied by Ruling Party Leader Dayashankar Tiwari and other officials and office-bearers.
The NMC is making arrangements of pandals, barricading, ground leveling, lighting, drinking water supply, cleanliness etc at Ambazari as well as Futala Lake. Two mobile toilets and urinals will be constructed for the convenience of devotees thronging the two places. At present, barricades have been put up for Metro Rail work on the road leading to Ambazari Lake. The Mayor directed the officials to remove the barricades temporarily and clear the road during Chhat Puja celebration.
The concerned officials were directed by Datke to erect a ‘Shamiyana’ (Pandal) at entry gate of Ambazari Lake. Similarly, NMC has been asked to make seating arrangements by arranging tables, chairs at Puja sites.
The sites would also be brightly illuminated so that the devotees are not put to any difficulties during night time. For collection of ‘Nirmalya’ and other Puja material, large Kalash and other arrangements are being made to maintain cleanliness at Chhat Puja sites.
Other dignitaries who were present during Mayor’s visit include Bahurashtriya Chhat Puja Samiti Secretary Arvindkumar Jha, S B Mishra, Shailendra Awasthi, Vakil Singh, Vivek Sharma, BJP’s Subodh Acharya, Shyam Chandekar, Development Engineer Satish Neral, Dharampeth Zone Assistant Engineer Mahesh Morone, Deputy Engineer Sanjay Watpande, Junior Engineer (Electrification) G M Tarapure and others.
–Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha (rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com)
