Preparations for Chhath Puja are under way at the ghat beneath Indira Bridge along Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront, but water hyacinth in parts of the river has raised concerns among devotees expected to gather there on Sunday.
The Indira Bridge ghat has become an important worship site for families from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who live and work in Ahmedabad and cannot travel to their native places for the festival. Thousands of devotees are expected to assemble at the riverfront to offer prayers to the setting and rising sun.
According to Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad, the ghat is being prepared for the festival and water has been filled at the site. The preparations include work to improve the appearance of the ghat ahead of the gathering.
The report also states that water hyacinth remains visible in some sections of the Sabarmati. The growth is present in the area where devotees are expected to stand in the water during the ritual, raising concerns about access and the condition of the worship space.
The issue has led to demands that the relevant authorities remove the water hyacinth before the festival. Devotees have sought immediate action so that the rituals can take place without obstruction at the Indira Bridge ghat.
Chhath Puja is observed by offering arghya to the sun at sunset and sunrise. In Ahmedabad, the riverside gathering reflects the city’s role as a destination for communities from different parts of India and places added pressure on public authorities to prepare shared civic spaces for large cultural events.
The immediate requirement identified in the report is the removal of the water hyacinth from the area used for worship before devotees arrive on Sunday.
