Before the lamps are lit and the first arghya is offered, the work happens at the ghat. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 26 October 2026 conducted a personal inspection of Sur Ghat, reviewing preparations for Chhath Mahaparv — the festival that holds deep emotional significance for millions of Purvanchal families settled in the capital.

Posting about the visit on X, CM Gupta wrote that she issued necessary instructions to officials on cleanliness of the ghats, lighting arrangements, security, and facilities for devotees. 'The great festival of faith, Chhath, is a celebration of the faith, emotions, and traditions rooted in the soil of our Purvanchal,' she wrote. 'It is our responsibility to ensure that Purvanchali families living in Delhi feel that same sense of belonging to their villages, traditions, and loved ones during this festival.'

Sur Ghat at the centre of Delhi's Chhath arrangements

Sur Ghat, one of the key riverbank sites in Delhi used for Chhath observances, draws large numbers of devotees for the ritual offering to the Sun God. The festival, observed predominantly by communities from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, involves pre-dawn and evening arghya rituals at open water bodies — making ghat readiness a logistical priority for city administrations.

The Chief Minister noted that her government is engaged in preparations 'with the spirit of respecting the devotion of every vrati (fasting devotee) and keeping in mind the convenience of every family.' Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, tagged in the post via @KapilMishra_IND, was present during the inspection alongside senior officials from relevant departments.

Delhi's Purvanchal community and the politics of the ghat

Delhi is home to one of the largest concentrations of Purvanchal migrants in India. Successive city governments have treated Chhath Puja as both an administrative responsibility and a moment of visible outreach to this substantial constituency. Ghat cleaning drives, temporary lighting rigs, security deployments, and changing-room facilities have become standard elements of pre-festival preparation in the capital.

The BJP-led Delhi government's use of the hashtag #ViksitDelhi — 'Developed Delhi' — situates the festival arrangements within its broader governance narrative, framing cultural continuity and civic infrastructure as complementary goals. The emphasis on warmth and belonging for transplanted communities adds a deliberately emotional register to what is also routine administrative work.

With the main Chhath observances approaching, the coming days will test whether the on-ground readiness at Sur Ghat and the capital's other key ghats matches the intent signalled at Monday's inspection.