Chhath Puja Gujarat celebrations drew thousands of devotees to the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, water ponds in Jamnagar and riverbanks across south Gujarat on November 15, with police deployment reported at key locations as families observed the festival’s evening rituals.
In Ahmedabad, devotees gathered along the Sabarmati riverbank between Subhash Bridge and Indira Bridge to offer arghya to the setting sun. The celebrations were concentrated near the area below Indira Bridge, where the available space became limited as crowds increased. Some devotees moved to the Bhadreshwar riverbank for the worship, according to Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The Ahmedabad gathering included North Indian families, particularly people from Bihar, who performed traditional prayers to Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God. Devotees observed rituals on the riverbank and offered the evening arghya as part of the festival. The riverfront was also marked by Chhath songs and religious activities during the celebration.
In Jamnagar, celebrations were held at Balaji Park in Ward 6, as well as in areas including Senanagar and Ravipark, where a significant Bihari community lives. Families who had moved to the city for employment gathered from the early morning. Special water ponds were arranged at Balaji Park, Senanagar and Ravipark for women observing the fast and performing the rituals.
Women in traditional clothing arrived at the designated ponds with family members, fruits, पूजा materials and offerings. They stood in the water while worshipping Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God and praying for the wellbeing, peace and prosperity of their families. Local political representatives were also reported to have visited the Balaji Park area and greeted members of the community.
Large gatherings were reported in Valsad district and other parts of south Gujarat, including Vapi, Dharampur, Kaprada, Umargam and Pardi. Devotees assembled at riverbanks and performed prayers while offering worship to the setting sun. In Vapi, people gathered along the Daman Ganga river, where a police team including senior officers was deployed in connection with the event.
Celebrations were also reported in the Union Territories of Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The gatherings underline how migrant and settled North Indian communities use shared urban spaces, riverbanks and temporary water facilities to maintain community traditions outside their places of origin.
The report does not provide official crowd estimates, details of traffic restrictions, safety arrangements beyond the reported police deployment, or information on post-event cleaning and restoration of the riverfront and other public sites. The next civic steps at the locations used for the celebrations were not specified in the available report.
