Juchandra lake in Naigaon East was breached by devotees on Sunday evening for Chhath Puja after the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) restricted worship at natural water bodies and locked the lake’s main gate, according to a report by Loksatta. The incident followed a similar reported breach at Nagela lake in Nalasopara.
A large crowd of North Indian residents had gathered at Juchandra lake to perform the festival rituals. Under the municipal arrangements, the main entrance to the lake had been locked to prevent access. The report said that some devotees became agitated after finding the entrance closed, broke the gate lock and entered the lake premises to begin the पूजा rituals. The gathering created a tense situation in the area before authorities intervened to prevent further unrest.
The VVCMC restrictions were introduced to protect natural water sources from pollution and to address safety concerns associated with large gatherings at lakes. The municipal corporation had prohibited Chhath Puja at natural lakes while making alternative arrangements for devotees across the city.
According to the report, the civic body established 59 artificial ponds and made special arrangements at seafront locations for the festival. These facilities were intended to provide designated spaces for worship without directing large crowds towards natural lakes. Despite these arrangements, some residents reportedly continued to approach restricted water bodies.
The Juchandra incident highlights the operational challenge faced by city authorities during major public festivals: restrictions on access must be enforced at the same time as alternative facilities are made usable and acceptable to residents. In this case, the municipal decision to lock the gate prevented entry, but the subsequent forced opening of the entrance created a law-and-order situation at the site.
The reported breach also raises an immediate environmental management concern. Natural lakes are vulnerable to waste, ritual offerings and other forms of pollution when large gatherings take place around their edges. The municipal restrictions were framed as a measure to prevent such damage, while the artificial ponds and seafront arrangements were presented as alternatives for devotees.
Chhath Puja is widely observed by the North Indian community in Vasai-Virar and involves large gatherings at water bodies. The festival’s dependence on access to water creates a recurring management requirement for the municipal corporation, including crowd control, site preparation, sanitation and communication of restrictions.
Loksatta reported that the Juchandra lake incident occurred after the earlier Nagela lake episode in Nalasopara, where devotees were also reported to have broken a lock to enter the restricted premises. The latest incident adds pressure on the civic administration to manage access to natural water bodies while maintaining the alternative arrangements announced for the festival.
