Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront is being prepared for a large Chhath Puja gathering, with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation releasing fresh water into the river, completing sanitation work at the ghat and arranging civic facilities for devotees expected to attend the celebration.
The preparations are centred on the Sabarmati Chhath Ghat, where devotees perform rituals standing in water and offer prayers to the Sun God. According to a report by Sandesh, the municipal administration has completed cleaning work at the ghat and the surrounding area to ensure that visitors can participate in the rituals without difficulty.
The civic arrangements come as thousands of devotees are expected to gather at the riverfront. The report said a large stage has also been installed at the venue for cultural programmes and the presence of dignitaries. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was expected to attend the programme the following day, although the report described his participation as a strong possibility rather than a confirmed appearance.
The release of fresh water into the Sabarmati was identified as one of the key arrangements for the festival. The measure is intended to allow devotees to stand in the river during the Chhath rituals. The report did not provide details on the quantity of water released, the source of the water or the operational arrangements for maintaining the water level during the event.
The preparations also include a security and crowd-management plan. The police department has deployed security personnel at the riverfront in view of the expected turnout. The arrangements are intended to maintain law and order during the gathering and manage movement across the event area.
Traffic management has been planned separately because of the anticipated crowd. Traffic police are expected to regulate vehicles approaching the riverfront and have made special arrangements for parking. The report did not specify road closures, diversion routes, parking capacity or the number of personnel assigned to traffic duties.
The event places multiple civic functions around a single public space: water management for the rituals, cleaning and sanitation, crowd control, security, traffic regulation and temporary event infrastructure. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and police department are therefore handling different parts of the preparation as the city gets ready for the gathering.
The report said preparations at the ghat and nearby areas had been completed. The next operational milestones are the Chhath Puja programme, the expected arrival of devotees and the implementation of the planned security, traffic and parking arrangements at the Sabarmati Riverfront.
