The festival of Chhath is being celebrated with deep devotion across the country. For those observing the fast and the devotees, purity, cleanliness, and hygiene are of paramount importance during Chhath Puja.
With the Sun God—a deity visible to all—as their witness, devotees follow every rule and requirement for purity with complete dedication throughout this rigorous four-day ritual. However, in the national capital, Delhi, the scene during this grand festival of faith appears somewhat different each year.
Toxic foam observed
Toxic foam has been spotted in the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj in New Delhi. Anti-foaming chemicals are being sprayed to clear the foam. Ahead of Chhath Puja, these chemicals are being used near the Okhla Barrage to eliminate the foam and clean the Yamuna. Devotees are left with no choice.
In Delhi, devotees are compelled to step into the polluted waters of the Yamuna, sustained by an unwavering belief that their faith will protect them. Since Diwali, Delhi has been grappling with toxic air and hazardous levels of pollution. Meanwhile, the cleaning of the Yamuna River has become a subject of intense political maneuvering. Opposition leaders, including those from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), are targeting the BJP over the toxic foam floating in the river, while BJP leaders are hitting back just as sharply.
As thousands of devotees gather at the banks of the Yamuna for Chhath—standing waist-deep in the water to offer *arghya* (oblations) to the Sun God—the state of the river will, in effect, serve as an “annual public audit” of both the river’s cleanliness and the government’s claims.
AAP questions the claims
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised questions regarding the BJP’s claims about cleaning the Yamuna. The AAP alleges that during a television debate on Friday, a BJP spokesperson promised to take a dip in the Yamuna at the Kalindi Kunj *ghat* on Saturday morning, but failed to show up. According to the AAP, their spokespersons arrived at the site and waited for hours. The party alleged that chemicals were being sprayed into the Yamuna River using six boats.
In this regard, AAP’s Delhi convener Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with Anmol Panwar, targeted the BJP government.
