Heaps of waste lying along important ponds of the city are amply proving that the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) is in no hurry to set right things for ‘Chhath’ Puja. Utter lack of cleanliness prevailing on the banks of all important ponds would certainly prove dear to hundreds of devotees who would throng the ponds to perform religious rituals during Chhath Puja. The five-day festival has already started on Monday, but the civic body is showing no haste to clean the ponds and lift waste from the water bodies. Dumps of waste still lying near the banks of important ponds. Stray cattle like cows and pigs are spreading waste on roads and adding to uncleanliness. It may be noted that Chhath Puja is the biggest festival of North Indians. They celebrate the five-day festival with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. The Puja has already started on Monday. According to the Hindu calendar, Chhath, which means sixth, is celebrated on the sixth day of the new moon day in the month of Karthik.

 

It is an Indian thanksgiving festival dedicated to the Sun God. During the celebrations of Chhath Puja, people gather on the banks of rivers and ponds to bathe in its sacred water, pray and make ritual offerings to the Sun God. People of North India community said they have already urged the JMC officials for proper cleanliness and lighting arrangements at the banks of river Narmada and all important ponds. But, senior officials of the JMC are taking no interest to clear dumps of waste still lying near the ponds like Hanumantal. Besides, it is also not checking the banned practices like washing cloths with detergent in ponds etc. They said the lethargy of Municipal Corporation is indicating that the devotees would have to perform rituals of Chhath Puja amid massive uncleanliness.