Wed Oct 22 19:20:16 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

This article from The Hindu reports on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s announcement that the Delhi government is constructing 17 model ghats along the Yamuna river and over 1,000 ghats across the city in preparation for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival. She also announced the government will withdraw cases against devotees for previous Chhath Puja celebrations on the Yamuna’s banks. The opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the move as electioneering aimed at securing votes from the Purvanchali community. The article also mentions a city-wide cleanliness drive at ghats led by public representatives and a visit by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to a ghat at ITO.

News Article:

Delhi Government Builds Model Ghats for Chhath Puja Amidst Political Squabble

New Delhi, October 23, 2025 – In anticipation of the four-day Chhath Puja festival commencing on October 25th, the Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, announced the construction of 17 “model ghats” along the Yamuna river and over 1,000 more across the city. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat earlier today.

“Each subdivision will have at least one model ghat to make the festival accessible to devotees in every area,” CM Gupta stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to facilitating the religious observance. She also declared that all cases filed against devotees in previous years for offering prayers on the banks of the Yamuna would be withdrawn.

These model ghats will range in size from half a kilometre to one and a half kilometres, catering to the specific needs of local communities. The government also plans to host cultural programs at around 200 of the ghats.

However, the announcement was met with swift criticism from the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP representatives accused the ruling party of engaging in political maneuvering ahead of upcoming elections in Bihar. “It is election time in Bihar, so they [BJP] are doing this drama to get the votes of Purvanchalis,” an AAP spokesperson stated.

Adding to the efforts, a city-wide cleanliness drive at the ghats has been launched by MPs, MLAs, councillors, and other public representatives in their respective constituencies. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also seen participating in the cleaning efforts at a ghat near ITO. AAP dismissed his actions as mere theatrics.

The initiatives come as the city prepares to welcome devotees celebrating Chhath Puja, a significant festival observed primarily by people from the Purvanchal region of India, who worship the Sun God. The political undertones surrounding the preparations highlight the increasing importance of this demographic in Delhi’s political landscape.

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