Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday declared a public holiday on November 7 (Thursday) for Chhath Pooja.
The announcement comes shortly after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena wrote a letter to Atishi urging her to declare November 7 a full-time holiday on the third day of Chhath.
Sharing the announcement on X, Atishi wrote, "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 a statement of the Delhi government which read, "'Chhat Pooja’ is an important festival for the people of NCT of Delhi. Accordingly, Government of NCT of Delhi, has decided to declare 07ᵗʰ November, 2024 as Public Holiday on account of ‘Chhat Pooja."
Chhath Puja is a major Hindu festival of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh where the 'God Sun' is worshipped. It is one of the significant festivals for the migrant population from the two states residing in the national capital.
Accordingly, the Government of NCT of Delhi has decided to declare November 7, 2024, as a public holiday on account of 'Chhat Puja, the order read.
Earlier in the day, the Raj Niwas Delhi said in a post on X, 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 festival is dedicated to the worship of the sun god and is celebrated by people following a rigorous routine that lasts for four days. The rituals and traditions of this festival include fasting, offering prayers to the rising and setting sun, holy bathing, and meditation while standing in the water.