Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to complete preparations for Chhath Puja well ahead of the festival, with more than 1,400 ghats expected to be set up across the capital this year, compared with 1,326 in 2025. The government will also observe a public holiday on November 16, following the morning prayers on the final day of the festival.
At a review meeting on Tuesday, Gupta instructed officials from the district administration, civic bodies, police and other departments to ensure that devotees have access to clean, safe and convenient facilities. She stressed that there must be no shortcomings in arrangements for worship, crowd management, sanitation or public safety.
The Chief Minister directed the departments concerned to complete all major arrangements at least two days before the festival. Officials must visit the ghats in person to assess the preparations rather than rely solely on progress reports, she said, adding that any deficiencies should be addressed on the spot.
According to officials, Chhath Puja will begin on November 13 and conclude on November 16. The government is preparing for large gatherings, particularly on November 15 and 16, when devotees will offer evening and morning prayers.
More tents, sanitation facilities and lighting planned
Taking the possibility of colder weather in November into account, Gupta directed officials to provide covered tents at large and medium-sized ghats wherever necessary. Additional tents should be installed behind stages, near the main worship areas and at other locations where devotees may require shelter. Major model ghats should also have extra tents as needed.
The basic infrastructure and other preparations at the ghats must be completed by November 6. Tasks such as filling the ghats with water, putting up tents and carrying out the final cleaning can be undertaken in the days that follow, the Chief Minister said. District administrations and the departments concerned have been asked to inspect the ghats regularly and resolve problems immediately.
Special attention must be given to toilets and changing rooms for women. Gupta said these facilities were particularly important because of the festival's association with purity and religious observance.
She also ordered comprehensive cleaning arrangements at the ghats and in surrounding areas. Sanitation must be carried out before the evening arghya, after the evening prayers at night and immediately after the morning Usha Arghya.
With large crowds expected towards the end of the festival, sanitation workers and additional cleaning teams must remain deployed round the clock. Adequate large dustbins should be placed at the ghats, and waste must be cleared continuously instead of being allowed to accumulate.
Roads, CCTV surveillance and crowd management
Gupta directed officials to ensure that roads leading to the ghats are free of potholes, loose stones, debris and other obstructions. Damaged roads must be repaired, while water sprinklers should be operated regularly to control dust. All available sprinklers and machinery must be used as required rather than kept on standby.
Old stones and debris lying on central road medians and at repair sites must also be removed. The Chief Minister stressed that routes to the ghats should be adequately illuminated, with no stretches left in darkness or dark spots remaining along the way.
CCTV surveillance must be ensured at all major and crowded ghats. The Delhi Police, district administration and other agencies have been instructed to coordinate their efforts, while fire tenders must be stationed near large ghats and locations expected to witness heavy crowds.
The Traffic Police has also been asked to work with local organisers and communicate parking arrangements, traffic diversions and road closures in advance wherever required.
Large model ghats should feature LED screens continuously displaying content related to Chhath Puja. The screens should also carry videos informing devotees about the Delhi government's public welfare schemes, Gupta said.
Foreign diplomats to be invited to celebrations
The Delhi government plans to invite foreign ambassadors and high commissioners to this year's Chhath Puja celebrations. Officials have been directed to coordinate with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to identify an appropriate venue.
Sur Ghat is among the locations being considered, although another suitable ghat with adequate preparations may also be selected for the event, according to the government release.
Gupta said the public holiday on Monday, November 16, would help devotees after the morning Usha Arghya. The festival's final day is expected to see significant movement as worshippers return home following the rituals.
Railways, bus terminals to prepare for rush
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for the increased passenger rush at railway stations during the festival, particularly among people travelling to Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Gupta directed officials to coordinate with the Ministry of Railways to manage the crowds and ensure that passengers can travel conveniently. She stressed that similar attention must be paid to those using bus services.
At inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs), authorities must provide essential travel information, display banners where necessary and put appropriate crowd-management arrangements in place. Civil Defence personnel may also be deployed at locations where additional assistance is required.
Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, Chhath Puja committee representatives, MLAs Abhay Verma, Chandan Kumar Chaudhary and Sandeep Sehawat, and officials from the Revenue Department, Delhi Police, Traffic Police, Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Public Works Department, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi Fire Service and other concerned agencies attended the review meeting.
In a statement, Gupta said Chhath Puja was deeply rooted in the faith of millions of devotees and that the government had a responsibility to provide a clean, safe and convenient environment for worshippers observing the fast and their families.