New Delhi: A huge number of devotees thronged to river Yamuna in Delhi today on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Standing in the midst of foamy river, offering prayers to the Sun God, the devotees were least concerned with the toxic foamy Yamuna river surrounding them.
The Delhi government workers have been spraying water using boats and trying to makeshift barricade on the river to “scatter” the toxic foam that has developed over the water.
Also read: India to issue tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals from Nov 15: Indian High Commissioner
The four-day Chhath Puja, which began earlier this week, concluded on Thursday with devotees offering ‘Arghya’ to the rising sun and breaking their fast. The puja has always been a major centre of politics every year as parties try to woo the ‘Purvanchalis’ – the natives of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – who dominate around 33.5 percent of the 14 million population in the national capital.
A group of BJP leaders, including party MPs Manoj Tiwari and Parvesh Verma, led the group of devotees to the river ghats.
Besides the usual politics over the festivities, the toxic foam in Yamuna has been in spotlight this time, reminding people of Bengaluru’s Bellandur lake that is infamous for its pollution.
Also read: Can love be so cruel? Man stabs woman 18 times after she refused to marry him
A Delhi government official said that a total of 15 boats were deployed, to “beat the foam with sticks” and disperse it. Boats were also deployed in the river on Tuesday and this had helped to “break up” the foam particles, allowing them to dissolve into water. A total of 30 to 40 people were deployed with the boats on Wednesday, the report stated quoting sources.
Continue Reading
