Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar took a ferry ride in the Ganga on Tuesday to inspect the ghats and Chhath Puja preparations in and around the state capital.

The four-day most popular and widely celebrated festival in the state will commence on Friday. It includes oblations to the Sun offered in rivers and water bodies.

Travelling from Nasriganj in Danapur to Kangan Ghat in Patna, Nitish reviewed the arrangements that are nearing completion and gave various directions to officials to ensure cleanliness, safety and hygiene in view of the mass gathering of people on the banks of the Ganga.

Lakhs of people from Patna and neighbouring districts of south Bihar come to the capital to perform Chhath rituals at around 100 ghats of the holy river.

Many of them camp on the banks on the final two days of the worship.

“All efforts should be made to ensure that the devotees do not face any problem in performing the rituals. All steps for their safety should be taken in view of the water level and the flow in the Ganga,” Nitish told the officials.

He also asked them to put up barricades on the roads and paths leading to the ghats.