Lucknow, Oct 27 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the Chhath Puja is a “symbol of ancient heritage of India”, and not merely a gathering.
Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of Chhath Puja at Chhath Ghat in Laxman Mela Maidan in Lucknow, he greeted the audience in the Bhojpuri dialect.
“This festival is not a gathering, it is a symbol of our social unity, spiritual upliftment and ancient heritage of India,” Adityanath said.
The chief minister said this festival teaches harmony with nature, and added that examples of events like these are difficult to find in the world.
He said that no drainage or sewer from Lucknow will flow into the Gomti river, and it will be pure between Pilibhit and Ghazipur.
Appreciating the four days of rigorous devotion, especially the penance of women, he said that the festival is linked to family prosperity and public welfare.
This tradition, which has persisted since ancient times, has now spread across India, he said. From eastern Uttar Pradesh to western regions, millions of devotees are participating, Adityanath added.
Giving the example of Ghaziabad and Noida, he said that from 50,000 to 1lakh devotees are celebrating Chhath there, he said.
There is no temple, pond, or lake where devotees are not connected, and this unity is not only cultural but also sends a message of national solidarity, he added.
Adityanath said the “festival connects us and strengthens social bonds.” On the occasion, he further said that no country can develop until its citizens are connected with their national duties.
Linking the Swachh Bharat Mission to Chhath, he said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this campaign, launched in 2014, has become the foundation of environmental protection.
He also urged people to stop the reckless use of single-use plastic and polythene, eliminate sources of pollution and avoid throwing waste into rivers or drains.
“If everyone follows this, more than half the problem will be solved. Cleanliness is not only the administration’s responsibility, but also every citizen’s duty,” the chief minister said.
Without citizens fulfilling their national duties, the nation cannot progress, he said, adding that such collective effort will help realise the vision of a developed, self-reliant India.
In the past two years, there were complaints of low water levels and foul smell in the Gomti river, but this time, due to the efforts of the administration, the irrigation department, the municipal corporation, and volunteer organisations, the situation has improved, Adityanath said.
He said that meetings were held a month ago, and the Akhil Bhartiya Bhojpuri Samaj conducted a cleanliness drive, resulting in the river’s water being clean and adequate now.
“If the water offered in ritual (arghya) is not pure, how can God accept it? Just as the place of worship must be clean, the river must also be clean. Within one to one and a half years, no drainage or sewer from Lucknow will flow into the Gomti. The river will be pure and uninterrupted between Pilibhit and Ghazipur,” he said.
The chief minister appealed to devotees to conduct a cleanliness drive tomorrow morning after the festival. This is a national duty and the responsibility of every resident of Lucknow and the state, he added.
The Chief Minister mentioned the tradition of celebrating Chhath – from homes to riverbanks – and extended greetings to all, a government statement said.
He also prayed to Chhathi Maiya to fulfil everyone’s wishes and bring happiness and prosperity to families and society, it said.
UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Mayor of Lucknow Sushma Kharkwal, president of Akhil Bhartiya Bhojpuri Samaj Prabhunath Rai and several local public representatives and officials were present during the event, the statement said. PTI NAV OZ OZ
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