Around 14 river ghats or 'ovaras' along the Tapi river banks were teeming with thousands of devotees as the holy Chhath Pujas were performed at various locations.
Over the last one decade, the Chhath Puja has gained immense popularity in the diamond city due to the huge presence of migrants from North Indian states including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Sources in the municipal corporation said that the Chhath Puja is being performed for two days at 14 different ovaras starting from Thursday. Around 100 fire personnel, over 150 expert swimmers and around 10 rescue boats have been deployed at various locations.
The biggest Chhath Puja in the city takes place at the Iskon Temple ovara at Jehangirpura. Every year, more than 50,000 people participate in the puja.
Chairman of Bihar Vikas Parishad (BVP), KK Sharma, "The city of diamonds and textile has a large number of population migrated from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh where Chhath is a major festival. Unlike their hometowns, migrants here have developed faith in Chhath puja and the festival is becoming bigger and bigger every year"
According to Sharma, though many from Bihar and other states have gone to their hometowns in Diwali vacation, but there are still many who participated with devotion.
Chhath puja is a festival celebrated on the sixth day of Diwali every year and it is usually a four-day celebration. The puja has started from Thursday with the age-old ritual of 'Nahai-Khai' in which devotees prepare traditional food after taking a bath in Tapi river.
by Melvyn Reggie Thomas via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India
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