look news india
Amidst the preparations for Chhath Puja (Chhath Puja 2026), the great festival of public faith, purity and equality, a case has come to light from the religious city Varanasi, which has hurt the sentiments of common devotees. This time, ‘VIP culture’ is clearly dominating the Ganga ghats in Kashi as well as the major ghats located on the banks of river Varuna. Along with Nahay-Khay and Kharna, many influential people of the city, local leaders and influential families have already taken possession of the most convenient places and puja altars on the Varuna coast by writing their names or by siege. In the great festival which is considered a symbol of equality of every section of the society through the worship of Sun God, there is deep resentment among the common devotees regarding such VIP arrangements and unannounced booking of places.
Even before Chhath Puja, a strange sight is being seen in Shastri Ghat, Nakkhi Ghat, Purana Pul, Koniya and surrounding coastal areas of Varuna River. Local residents and devotees allege that some influential people, due to their influence and in connivance with the local committees, have put the stamp of ‘reserve’ on the stairs and flat banks of the ghat by making a circle with lime, tying a rope or writing the name with paint. Traditionally, at Chhath Ghats, devotees prepare their altars in the spirit of ‘first come, first served’ and mutual cooperation, so that every family gets enough space to offer Arghya to Lord Bhaskar. But this time, many major areas have been surrounded like private estates by arranging for big tents, sofas and separate lighting, due to which it is becoming difficult for ordinary families to even get close to the water.
Common devotees and social workers of Varanasi have expressed sharp reaction to such VIP siege on the ghats. The relatives of the fasting women say that when they are reaching the ghat since morning to make their altar, they are being removed saying that this place is reserved for the family of an officer, leader or big businessman. Local citizens argue that the public river banks and ghats cleaned by the Municipal Corporation cannot be the privilege of any one person or class. People have demanded from the Varanasi District Administration and Municipal Corporation officials to immediately inspect all the ghats on the Varuna coast and ensure equal arrangements for all the devotees by removing the illegal cordons and named altars done on the basis of influence.
Varanasi Municipal Corporation and District Administration are making claims of making concrete arrangements for cleaning the ghats, barricading, lighting and security regarding the festival of Chhath. However, the ground reality is that at many places, special places are being allotted to VIP families only at the instigation of officials of local puja committees. As per administrative rules, no official permission is given to reserve space in private name on any public ghat. After this matter gained momentum, now the administrative staff also seems to be coming into action and instructions have been given to the concerned zonal officers that no discrimination or VIP occupation of the ghats should be allowed, so that every devotee can offer Arghya to the setting and rising sun without any inconvenience.
It is noteworthy that Chhath Puja is the only folk festival of Indian culture in which neither any priest is required nor there is any discrimination between high and low or rich and poor. People of all classes stand together on the same ghat and worship Sun God and Chhathi Maiya with bamboo soup and earthen lamps. In such a situation, the flourishing of VIP culture on the ghats in a spiritual city like Kashi is being considered completely contrary to the basic spirit of this great festival. Now all eyes are on the action of the Varanasi district administration to see whether the ghats on the Varuna coast are freed from this VIP occupation before the Arghya and the common devotees are given their rights or not.
