New Delhi

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has announced a public holiday for Thursday, November 7, across all Delhi government offices in honor of Chhath Puja, also known as Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi. Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to the Sun God, is widely celebrated in various parts of India, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, as well as by Indian communities abroad. This year, the four-day celebration began on November 5 and will conclude on November 8.

The official notification, issued by Pradeep Tayal, Deputy Secretary of the General Administration Department, clarifies that this declaration replaces the earlier restricted holiday for Chhath Puja announced in October.

During the festival, devotees engage in rituals at rivers and water bodies, including the Yamuna and Ganga ghats, starting with Nahay-Khay, a day of purification on the Chaturthi Tithi. The festival continues with Kharna on Panchami Tithi, the main Chhath Puja on Sashti, and concludes with Usha Arghya on Saptami Tithi, honoring the Sun God with offerings at sunrise on the final day, November 8.