The Yamuna River Safari at Sonia Vihar hosted a light and sound show attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on the first day of Chhath Puja, as the Delhi government positioned the riverfront complex as a future hub for the capital’s cultural and tourism activities.
Gupta attended the programme alongside Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries. The event featured musical fountains and cultural performances depicting the mythological story of Goddess Yamuna’s birth and her descent from Golok to Earth, followed by the divine leela of Goddess Yamuna and Lord Krishna.
Calling the experience special during the festival, Gupta said the government wanted to give the Yamuna a wider role in Delhi’s public and cultural life. “The government’s endeavour is to make the Yamuna not just a centre of faith, but also a new identity for Delhi’s tourism and cultural activities,” she said.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the Opposition not to politicise Chhath, describing the festival as a symbol of faith, unity and social harmony. The remarks came during a programme that combined religious and cultural themes with a publicly accessible riverfront attraction.
The Namo Yamuna River Safari complex currently includes a 30-seater electric cruise operating along a four-kilometre stretch between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. Its facilities include a floating jetty, a food court, a waiting lounge and a children’s play area, according to the report.
The cruise gives the complex a transport and visitor-experience component beyond the light and sound programme. The use of an electric vessel also forms part of the attraction’s current operating model, although the supplied report does not provide details about passenger capacity per day, ticketing, operating hours or the project’s total cost.
A second cruise is planned for February-March 2027, indicating that the river safari is expected to expand beyond its present single-vessel operation. The report does not specify whether the additional cruise will cover a longer route, increase visitor capacity or introduce new stops along the Yamuna.
The programme reflects the Delhi government’s stated effort to connect the Yamuna with tourism and cultural activity while retaining its importance as a site of faith. For visitors, the complex currently combines a four-kilometre river journey with public amenities and entertainment facilities at Sonia Vihar.
The next stated milestone for the attraction is the planned addition of a second cruise in February-March 2027. Further operational details, including the schedule and scope of that expansion, have not been provided in the supplied report.
