New Delhi:

As the four-day Chhath festival begins with the traditional ‘Nahay Khay’ on Tuesday, a disturbing sight marred the religious fervour along the banks of the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj in Delhi.

Devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and perform the ritual holy bath, a significant part of the festival dedicated to the Sun God.

However, their devotion was overshadowed by the sight of toxic foam floating on the river’s surface, a stark reminder of the city’s persistent pollution.

Amid the rising pollution levels that have plagued the national Capital, sections of the Yamuna River, particularly around Kalindi Kunj, were seen covered in thick, frothy foam, leaving both environmentalists and devotees concerned.

#WATCH | Delhi: Thick toxic foam seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj, as pollution level in the river remains high.

Earlier today, devotees were seen taking a holy dip in the river and performing rituals of #ChhathPuja, on the first day of the festival.

(Drone… pic.twitter.com/XFqWFoxKFx

— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2024

As the festival enters its first day, the foam – an unpleasant and potentially hazardous byproduct of chemical pollution- has once again raised an alarm about the state of the river, which is central to the Chhath Puja rituals.

Each year, devotees of Chhath Puja gather by the Yamuna to perform sacred bathing and prayers as part of the traditional worship. However, this year, the sight of foam on the river’s surface has led many to question the efficacy of the measures taken by the administration to address the growing pollution problem.

The foam, a result of untreated sewage and industrial waste being dumped into the river, has become an annual issue during the festival, yet no lasting solutions seem to have been implemented.

“I love the Yamuna River, and I have come here to take a bath on Chhath Vrat, but the condition of the river is very bad. It feels very unfortunate,” said Kiran, a devotee who had travelled to the riverbank for the ritual.

“The government should think about the state of the river that we hold in reverence and worship. It’s disgraceful that the water we are supposed to bath in is polluted water,” she said.

Another devotee, Ram Dulari, who was also performing the traditional bath, echoed similar sentiments. “Today is Nahay Khay, the first day of our Chhath Puja. I just want to request the government to clean the Yamuna River,” she said, visibly distressed by the condition of the water.

The toxic foam, which has become a recurring issue during festivals like Chhath Puja, raises serious concerns about the quality of the water and its potential impact on public health.

The foam is composed of harmful chemicals, detergents, and pollutants from industrial and domestic waste. Prolonged exposure to such polluted water can lead to skin irritations and other health risks, especially for those who wade into the river to perform rituals.

This scene of environmental degradation in the Yamuna also highlights the systemic issue of untreated sewage being discharged into the river, which has been an ongoing challenge for years.

The river’s pollution levels have reached alarming proportions, with high concentrations of chemicals and industrial waste dissolving into the water, further complicating efforts to clean it.

Despite the Delhi government’s repeated assurances of measures to tackle the pollution in the Yamuna, the situation seems to have worsened over time. The lack of effective intervention during major religious events like Chhath Puja raises questions about the sincerity of the administration’s efforts to improve water quality and safeguard public health.

Environmental experts have long been warning about the dangers posed by the river’s contamination. The foam, which forms as a result of chemical and organic waste, serves as a visual indicator of the severe pollution in the water, which is not only harmful to the devotees but also to the broader ecosystem.

The ongoing pollution of the Yamuna, especially during such important cultural and religious events, has now become a significant challenge for the government and local authorities. Devotees, who hold the river in high regard, are increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in cleaning the waterway.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chhath Puja 2024 Bank Holiday: As Chhath Puja celebrations commence, banks in certain states will remain closed on designated days, impacting operations for up to four consecutive days in some areas. In addition to educational institutions, banks will close due to the event, including regular weekend holidays, starting on Thursday, November 7, and continuing through Sunday, November 10. These holidays will be observed in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Delhi, and Bihar.

Also Read | Chhath Puja 2024: Best Ghats In Delhi-NCR To Celebrate

Bank closure dates and locations

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks will remain closed on November 7 and 8 in specific regions. On Thursday, November 7, bank branches in Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, and West Bengal will close early for evening Chhath Puja prayers. The following day, Friday, November 8, banks in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya will observe a holiday for the morning prayers of Chhath Puja and the Wangala Festival. This is followed by the usual second Saturday and Sunday closures on November 9 and 10.

Where Banks Will Remain Open During Chhath

In other states, banks will operate as usual on November 7 and 8. Locations such as Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, and several others are not observing a holiday for Chhath Puja, as per the RBI’s 2024 holiday list.

Other Bank Holidays in November

Additional bank holidays are slated later in November. On November 15, banks will close in Bengal, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and other regions for Guru Nanak Jayanti, Kartik Purnima, and Rahas Purnima. Banks will also observe holidays on November 18 for Kanakdas Jayanti and on November 23 for Seng Kutsnem.

Customers in the affected states are advised to plan transactions accordingly, especially as four consecutive days of bank closure during Chhath Puja may delay certain banking services.

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Chhath Puja 2024 Date & Timings: The four-day Chhath Puja, celebrated across India and abroad, kickstarts on Tuesday (November 5) and will continue till Friday (November 8), with special rituals performed on each day. The festival is dedicated to the worship of the Sun god (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Shashti), believed to be the sister of the Sun. The rituals and the fasting procedure of the festival are extremely strict but immense spiritual gains are said to accrue when the devotees observe them successfully.

When is Chhath celebrated?

Chhath Puja takes place on the sixth day of the Kartik month, which typically falls in October-November. The festival’s first day is called Nahay khay, followed by Kharna. On the third (Sandhya arghya) and fourth day (Usha arghya), the devotees worship the setting and rising Sun respectively by standing in a water body and completing the rituals.

• Nahay Khay: November 5 from 6:36 AM till 5:33 PM
• Kharna: November 6 from 6:37 AM to 5:32 PM
• Sandhya arghya: November 7 from 6:38 AM to 5:32 PM
• Usha arghya: November 8 from 6:38 AM to 5:31 PM

What is Nahay Khay?

The first day of the festival is called Nahay Khay where the devotees take a meal (Khana) after a ceremonial bath (Nahana) in a river, sea or a pond. Water is brought from the waterbody and is utilised to make a stove (chulha) where the meals are prepared. The meal prepared is usually a pumpkin sabzi.

What is Kharna?

The second day of the festival is called Kharna, which involves fasting throughout the day, breaking it only after sunset. The person observing the fast takes the meal of roti (chappati) and kheer (rice pudding) after offering them to the god. Afterwards, the family members and friends gather to eat the same meal on a banana leaf together which fosters a feeling of togetherness.

Post Kharna begins an arduous 36-hour fast in which the devotees do not even drink water – making it one of the toughest religious practices that devotees only get through based on their strong devotion.

Also read | Chhath Puja 2024: Know The Dates, Timings And Significance Of Festival

What is Sandhya arghya?

On the third day, the main ritual having immense devotion ascribed to it, takes place. Devotees, usually women, gather at the water bodies, be it rivers or ponds, before sunrise. Standing waist-deep in water, they offer arghya (offering of water) to the rising Sun, chanting hymns and prayers.

What is Usha arghya?

The same ritual is conducted at dawn, the next day, for the rising Sun, called the Usha ka Arghya. Afterwards, the community returns home from the riverbanks, grateful for the successful conclusion of a difficult festival and for having taken part in it. The prasadam is then consumed as well as distributed in the neighbourhood.