Chhath Puja will be observed at dusk on Wednesday and at dawn on Thursday. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court have imposed certain restrictions on the performance of rituals during Chhath. The Telegraph lowdown on what are allowed and what are not
Firecrackers
Only green fireworks can be used between 6am and 8am on Thursday. But environment activists said there were hardly any green fireworks in the market and banned firecrackers had already been procured by many.
DJ
Playing loudspeakers or using DJs during the festival is banned.
Processions
The high court had in 2020 banned processions during Chhath Puja and said only two persons per family would be allowed to perform the rituals. But an officer of Kolkata police said that it could be practically impossible to stop processions.
“Since Chhath devotees come walking, it may not be possible to stop processions,” said the officer.
No entry at Sarobars
No Chhath Puja rituals will be allowed at Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar. Both parks will remain closed between Tuesday midnight and 6pm on Thursday.
The NGT had in 2018 banned all pujas, community picnics and social events on the Rabindra Sarobar premises. In 2020, the Supreme Court upheld the NGT’s order.
“We have deployed additional guards at Rabindra Sarobar to guard the gates so that no one can enter the compound,” said an official of Kolkata Municipal Development Authority (KMDA), the custodian of the Lakes.
Rituals at ghats
Over 130 ghats — some of them permanent and others temporary — have been readied for devotees to perform Chhath Puja rituals.
An official of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said there were 18 ghats along the Hooghly where arrangements had been made for worshippers.
The KMC has also made temporary wells, where a brick enclosure will be filled with water. Two such wells have been made on Panditiya and Cornfield Road in south Kolkata.
The KMDA has readied 32 temporary ghats in Kasba, Jadavpur and Patuli. Seven permanent ghats around water bodies — six in Anandapur and one in Patuli — were built a few years ago.
Traffic restrictions
Police said “Chhath Puja vehicles” will not be allowed on Sarat Bose Road, Park Street, Shakespeare Sarani, Ballygunge Circular Road, New Park Street, AJC Bose Road flyover, Park Circus connector, Parama flyover, Loudon Street, Rawdon Street and EM Bypass.