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regular-article-logo Saturday, 04 May 2024

Devotees observe Chhath following Covid-19 norms

Rush on the public tanks and water bodies, while some observed Chhath on their own terrace

Our Correspondent Dhanbad Published 20.11.20, 11:43 PM
Devotees perform Chhath Puja during the Sandhya Arghya on Damodar river at Sudamdih river side, Dhanbad on Friday.

Devotees perform Chhath Puja during the Sandhya Arghya on Damodar river at Sudamdih river side, Dhanbad on Friday. Picture by Shabbir Hussain

A large number of people celebrated Chhath in tanks on their terrace or small water bodies in their locality itself observing the social distancing norms. However, there was some rush on the public tanks or water bodies, where the majority of people have witnessed sporting masks but the social distancing norms of maintaining a minimum six feet distance could not be observed.

The maximum numbers of multi-storied buildings or apartment dwellers were those who celebrated Chhhath on their terrace and offered Arghya to setting sun in tanks or large tubs, etc.

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Talking to The Telegraph Online on Friday, Kajal Sinha, housemaker and resident of Shivshakti Apartment of Tapovan Colony under Saraidhela police station about 7 km from district headquarters said, “We used to observe Chhath in Raja Talab about 500 meters away from our locality but this year we chose to celebrate Chhath on the apartment terrace."

"All the 30 flat owners in our apartment cooperated with us. Our next-door neighbor, Shilpi made rangoli at the terrace and decorated the water tub in which we offered Arghya to Sun god," said Sinha.

"Being educated and well aware of the Covid-19 situation which is likely to spread during the winter, we couldn't have compromised with our health and others in the family. Thus we decided to celebrate Chhath on the terrace itself," said Sinha.

Echoing sentiments Vikash Singh, a sales representative of Hirapur, said, "We used to celebrate Chhath in nearby Loco tank but this year taking the social responsibility of preventing the spread of infection we decided to construct a small water body in our colony itself in order to celebrate the festival while observing all the government guidelines. We offered arghya to the god in the three feet tank dug up in colony with the local youth," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Chhath committee members at different ghats distributed mask and sanitizers among the devotees and appealed the people observing Chhath to follow the social distancing norms.

Dhanbad, Sub Divisional Officer, Surendra Prasad who himself inspected many of the public water bodies where Chhath was being celebrated, said , "We visited different water bodies and appealed to the people to observe Chhath following the social distancing norms this year so that we can celebrate Chhath normally next year."

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