by Alok Mohit
PATNA: The Patna district administration on Wednesday released a list of 16 ghats along Ganga river it has identified as “unsafe and dangerous” for performing Chaath rituals.
Incessant rainfall till early October this year has led to unstable water levels in the Ganga river, prompting the administration to take this step in order to avoid any untoward incidents during the four-day Chhath festival.
The ghats declared unsafe by the administration are Nariyal Ghat, JP Setu East Ghat, Bans Ghat, Collectariat Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, TN Bannerjee Ghat, Anta Ghat, Adalat Ghat, Mishri Ghat, Tedhi Ghat, Gaderiya Ghat, Nuruddinganj Ghat, Bharharwa Ghat, Maharaja Ghat, Kantahi Ghat and Guru Gobind Singh College Ghat/Kila Ghat.
Patna district magistrate Chandrasekhar Singh said the ghats declared unsafe will be closed for the devotees. Keeping in mind safety of the devotees no ritual-related to the festival will be allowed there this time,” he said.
Apart from various ghats, devotees will perform Chhath rituals at their homes, terrace of their apartments and many parks and ponds in the city.
The four-day festival will begin on Friday, October 28 with nahay-khaye and conclude on October 31 after offering ‘arghya’ to rising Sun. Devotees will observe ‘kharna’ on October 29 and offer ‘arghya’ to the setting Sun on October 30.
Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspected the Chhath Ghats along the banks of Ganga and instructed the concerned authorities to expediate the work to prepare Chhath Ghats for the upcoming festival.
