Mamata prays for everyone’s peace, prosperity & good health on Chhath
The Statesman | 28 October 2025
Every person in India should be allowed to practice his own religion without any fear, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee this afternoon.
She inaugurated Chhath Puja this afternoon. She also inaugurated an old temple after its renovation today.
Miss Banerjee said: “Our long cherished legacy is unity in diversity and we will continue to uphold this philosophy. In personally take part in every religious festival and will continue to do so throughout my life. I come to attend the Chhath festival every year.” She prayed for everyone’s peace, prosperity and good health on this occasion. Miss Banerjee has written a song for Chhath Puja.
She said the state government has given two days holiday for Chhath Puja. The ghats have been repaired and brightly illuminated to facilitate the devotees to perform the puja peacefully.
Miss Banerjee urged the police and the volunteers to ensure that the devotees can perform the puja peacefully. “The devotees should be divided into batches and one batch should be allowed at a time to perform the puja. The devotees along with their family members including children and relatives take holy dip in the river Hooghly and perform puja there standing in waist deep water. So, the police and volunteers should be alert to avert any accident,” she said.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has set up temporary ghats in and around the city so that the devotees can perform the puja. Earlier, people used to go to Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar to perform the puja. But it has been stopped following the order of the Green Tribunal.
Mayor Firhad Hakim, MPs Subrata Bakshi and Mala Roy, commissioner of police Manoj Kumar Verma, MLA Debashis Kumar attended the function. Mr Hakim had visited the ghats to oversee the last minute arrangements on Sunday evening.
Chhath Puja is observed across the state. People in colourful dress go to the water bodies and perform the puja this evening and will do the same tomorrow early morning. The devotees are accompanied by band parties. The women observe fast for the whole day and perform the puja in the late afternoon.