A day after the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Government permitted Chhath rituals at public water bodies in the state, devotees thronged market places in the state capital on Wednesday to buy fruits, bamboo soops and bottle gourds to prepare for one of the largest festivals in Jharkhand, to be celebrated on Friday and Saturday this week.

RMC workers clean the Chhath Ghat of Line Tank pond in Ranchi after the state govt granted permission to conduct Chhath rituals at public water bodies. Picture by Manob Chowdhary

Meanwhile, the district administration also started cleaning water bodies across the city to ensure that devotees get clean ghats to offer Arghya, a holy ritual during Chhath. On Wednesday morning, a team from the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) inspected the line tank lake and initiated a cleanliness drive.

People buy essentials ahead of Chhath Puja in Ranchi Picture by Manob Chowdhary

Ranchi Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) Sameera S said that the district administration was also planning ways to maintain social distancing between devotees during Chhath and ensure adherence to the government guidelines.

People shop ahead of Chhath puja at a market in Ranchi Picture by Manob Chowdhary

Following protests by devotees and opposition parties in Jharkhand against the government's diktat of prohibiting Chhath at public water bodies, the government had to amend an earlier guideline and incorporate changes to allow Chhath at public lakes, ponds and rivers.