Chhath Puja 2024 in Lucknow: 157 ghats, 50,000 devotees expected at Gomti
Synopsis
Lucknow is bracing for one of its biggest Chhath Mahaparv gatherings yet — up to 50,000 devotees at Laxman Mela Ground alone, spread across 157 ghats citywide. With water police, CCTV, plainclothes officers and a social media monitoring cell all activated, the scale of policing matches the scale of devotion expected on 15 November.
Key Takeaways
Chhath Mahaparv will be celebrated at 157 locations across Lucknow on 15 November 2024 .
Between 40,000 and 50,000 devotees are expected at Laxman Mela Ground on the Gomti riverbank .
Kukrail Barrage expects 12,000–15,000 visitors; Kudiya Ghat expects 8,000–10,000 .
Water police, steamers, motorboats, CCTV and plainclothes women officers have been deployed for safety.
Peace committee meetings and a social media monitoring cell are active to prevent rumours and maintain communal harmony.
Civic amenities include temporary toilets, women's changing rooms, medical teams and fire tenders at key ghats.
Chhath Mahaparv will be observed across Lucknow on 15 November 2024, with the Lucknow Police Commissionerate completing extensive security and logistics arrangements to manage what is expected to be one of the city's largest public gatherings of the year. Thousands of devotees are set to converge on riverbanks, ponds and designated ghats across the city for the evening and morning arghya rituals.
Scale of Celebrations
Chhath Puja events will be held at 157 locations across the Lucknow Commissionerate. These span 47 locations in the Eastern Zone, 17 in the Western Zone, 8 in the Northern Zone, 63 in the Southern Zone and 22 in the Central Zone. The sheer spread underscores how deeply the festival is embedded in the city's social fabric, with celebrations no longer confined to traditionally Bihar-origin communities.
Crowd Estimates at Key Ghats
Senior police officials have personally inspected prominent ghats including Kudiya Ghat, Lallu Mal Ghat, Pakka Pul, Hanuman Setu, Nishatganj, Khatu Shyam Mandir Ghat, Jhulelal Park, Laxman Mela Ground, Gomti Barrage, Pipraghat and Maa Chandrika Devi Ghat. Footfall estimates point to significant pressure at several sites: between 40,000 and 50,000 devotees are expected along the Gomti riverbank at Laxman Mela Ground, 12,000 to 15,000 at Kukrail Barrage, and 8,000 to 10,000 at Kudiya Ghat.
Security and Safety Arrangements
Authorities have deployed a multi-layered safety net for the occasion. Water police, steamers and motorboats will patrol the Gomti, while barricades will be installed to prevent devotees from wading into deep waters — a recurring concern at crowded riverside festivals. CCTV cameras and plainclothes women police personnel will be stationed to safeguard women and children.
On the civic side, temporary toilets, cleanliness drives, dedicated changing rooms for women, medical teams and ambulances have been arranged at key locations. Fire tenders and firefighting equipment will also be on standby. Control rooms will remain operational throughout the celebrations.
Communal Harmony and Social Media Vigil
Peace committee meetings are being organised within individual police station jurisdictions to maintain communal harmony during the festival period. The social media monitoring cell of the Lucknow Police is actively tracking misleading posts and rumours that could disrupt public order — a precaution that has become standard practice at large religious gatherings in Uttar Pradesh.
The Lucknow Police have urged citizens to adhere to safety instructions, refrain from sharing unverified information and cooperate with the administration for a peaceful celebration. With preparations complete, all eyes now turn to whether the city's infrastructure holds up to the scale of devotion expected on 15 November.
Point of View
Water patrols, a social media cell — reflects how the festival has grown well beyond its traditional base into a city-wide civic event that tests administration capacity every year. The crowd projections at Laxman Mela Ground, if accurate, would rival some of the largest single-point religious gatherings in Uttar Pradesh. What the arrangements do not address publicly is water quality on the Gomti, which has been a persistent concern at riverside Chhath events and remains a credibility test for the civic bodies involved. A peaceful, well-managed festival would be a genuine administrative achievement; any lapse at a site drawing tens of thousands will be equally visible.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will Chhath Puja be celebrated in Lucknow in 2024?
Chhath Puja 2024 in Lucknow will be held at 157 locations across the city on 15 November, spanning all five police zones — Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central. Major venues include Laxman Mela Ground, Kukrail Barrage, Kudiya Ghat and Gomti Barrage.
How many devotees are expected at Lucknow's Chhath ghats?
Up to 50,000 devotees are expected at Laxman Mela Ground on the Gomti riverbank alone. Kukrail Barrage is projected to draw 12,000 to 15,000 people, while Kudiya Ghat may see 8,000 to 10,000 visitors.
What security arrangements has Lucknow Police made for Chhath Puja?
The Lucknow Police Commissionerate has deployed water police, steamers and motorboats on the Gomti, installed CCTV cameras, and positioned plainclothes women officers at ghats. Barricades will prevent entry into deep waters, and control rooms will remain operational throughout the festival.
What civic facilities are available for devotees at Lucknow's Chhath ghats?
Authorities have arranged temporary toilets, cleanliness drives, dedicated changing rooms for women, medical teams, ambulances, fire tenders and proper lighting at key ghat locations across the city.
How is Lucknow Police handling misinformation during Chhath Puja 2024?
A dedicated social media monitoring cell is tracking misleading posts and rumours in real time. Additionally, peace committee meetings are being held at the police station level to maintain communal harmony during the festival period.
