Alok Mishra
Patna : Big gathering of devotees descended at different ghats at Patna and adjoining areas to offer `arghya’ to setting Sun on the third day of Chhath on November 13, 2018. The entire Patna was in religious mood as melodious Chhath
songs rent the air. Although the Patna district administration and Police had made elaborate arrangements for safety and facilities of the devotees and their family members, several voluntary organisations had also deployed their members in different areas to ensure the devotees did not face no problem in offering arghya at the ghats.
Bamboo poles were placed on the banks of river Ganga giving warning to the devotees not to cross the danger line. Several watch towers were also set up at different ghats to keep an eye over the movement of devotees. Cops from different police stations were deployed at different ghats with police patrolling cars moving on different roads.
Though river Ganga has gone about two to three km away from the state capital, the district administration had made elaborate arrangements so that the vehicle on way to ghats were not stuck anywhere. There were makeshift changing rooms for the devotees. Right from Digha Ghat to Rani Ghat, there was adequate arrangements of lights besides cleanliness.
Right from 3 pm on November 12, 2018, people started leaving for different ghats of the state capital. Be it tractors or autos or four-wheelers, all of them were vying with each other to reach their respective destination first.
It was like fair at different ghats in the state capital as toy and balloon sellers were also present on the ghats enticing little ones.
Several tea- stalls had also come up serve the family members of the devotees, who felt the pinch of cold with onset of winter season. Several boys and girls were seen taking selfies at Shiva Ghat near JP Setu.
NDRF men were seen moving in river Ganga to prevent any mishap. Even policemen were seen on motor-boats in the river. Cops were also seen on public address system asking the people not to cause problems to the devotees. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar along with cabinet ministers also moved to different ghats.