Patna’s Ganga ghats saw large gatherings of women observing the Jitiya festival on Saturday, prompting the district administration to deploy State Disaster Response Force teams, trained divers and additional police personnel as water levels remained high. Barricades and red flags were placed at vulnerable locations to restrict access to unsafe stretches.
Jitiya, also known as the Jivitputrika vrat, is observed by women praying for the long life, health and well-being of their children. The main fast followed the ‘nahay-khay’ ritual observed on Friday. Women kept a strict ‘nirjala’ fast, without food or water, and offered prayers to Jimutavahana at several ghats across the city.
Devotees arrived in traditional attire carrying puja material, with several accompanied by family members and children. Sukriti Sharma of Jaganpura, who observed the fast for her three sons, said the festival was centred on children’s well-being and that the thought of her children gave her the strength to continue despite the difficulty of the fast.
Deepika Gupta, 46, a Fraser Road resident, said she had observed the vrat for two decades. She described the gathering, prayers and rituals as an important family tradition. Gudiya Devi of Naya Tola, who visited Krishna Ghat, said women continued to participate in the rituals despite observing the waterless fast.
The administration made special arrangements at the ghats on the instructions of Patna district magistrate Kundan Kumar. The measures were intended to manage the expected gathering of women and children and reduce the risk of people entering deeper or unstable sections of the river. Officials advised devotees to remain within designated areas and avoid entering deep water.
The deployment reflects the operational challenge faced by city authorities when religious observances draw crowds to riverfront spaces with changing water conditions. The safety response combined crowd control with water-rescue preparedness, including SDRF personnel, divers, barricades and warning flags at vulnerable ghats.
The Jitiya observance will conclude with ‘parana’ on Sunday, when devotees will break their fast. Until then, officials have asked visitors to follow restrictions and remain in the areas marked as safe.
