Chhath Festival Approaches, but Permanent Ghat at Tigaria Badshah Pond Remains a Distant Dream

Despite the Chief Minister’s announcement and budgetary provision by IDA, the status of construction remains unclear; devotees may once again have to depend on temporary arrangements this year.

Indore: With just 11 days remaining before Chhath Puja, the long-awaited plan to develop permanent Chhath ghats in Indore has yet to take concrete shape. Although Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced the initiative and the Indore Development Authority (IDA) made a budgetary provision for a ghat at Tigaria Badshah Pond, there is still no clear information about the project’s progress. As a result, devotees may once again have to rely on temporary arrangements to perform their religious rituals.

Raising the issue once again, the Northeast Cultural Institute, Madhya Pradesh, has sent a fresh reminder to the Chief Minister. The organisation has sought details of the construction status and urged the authorities to expedite the project. It has questioned why no substantial progress has been made towards building a permanent facility despite the announcement at the Chief Minister’s level and the allocation included in the IDA budget.

Announcement Made in March 2025, but Construction Progress Remains Uncertain

On March 22, 2025, during the Bihar Diwas celebration, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced plans to develop Chhath Puja ghats at three ponds in Indore. Subsequently, the IDA’s budget for the financial year 2025–26 included provisions for beautification, plantation and construction of a Chhath ghat at Tigaria Badshah Pond, located near the Super Corridor.

However, even after the announcement and budgetary allocation, there is no clarity on when the project will begin, what stage the work has reached or when it is expected to be completed.

Letters to the Collector and a CM Helpline Complaint Have Yet to Bring Results

The Northeast Cultural Institute had earlier written to the then Indore Collector on June 25, 2025, demanding the development of a permanent Chhath ghat at Tigaria Badshah Pond. When the expected action did not follow, the organisation lodged a complaint through the CM Helpline on September 17, 2026.

In its latest reminder to the Chief Minister, the institute has urged the government to fix accountability among the concerned departments and ensure that the project is completed within a clearly defined timeframe.

Demand for Permanent Chhath Ghats at Four Ponds

Institute State President Thakur Jagdish Singh and General Secretary K.K. Jha said that a large number of families from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand live in Indore. For these communities, Chhath is not merely a religious observance; it is also an important expression of cultural identity, tradition and social unity.

During the festival, thousands of devotees gather at water bodies to offer arghya to the setting and rising Sun. Such large-scale religious gatherings require safe ghats, clean water, adequate lighting, essential facilities for women, drinking water and proper crowd management.

The institute has urged the IDA, Indore Municipal Corporation and district administration to work together to develop permanent Chhath ghats at Tigaria Badshah, Annapurna, Pipliyahana and Nipania ponds. It has also proposed developing Tigaria Badshah Pond as a dedicated Chhath Corridor so that major religious and cultural events can be organised there in the coming years.

Demand for Optional Public Holiday on Chhath Also Renewed

The institute has once again demanded that the Madhya Pradesh government declare at least an optional public holiday on the occasion of Chhath Puja. According to the organisation, such a holiday would enable families from the Purvanchal region to participate in the festival’s important religious rituals without difficulty.

This year, the main evening arghya will be offered on November 15, while the morning usha arghya will take place on November 16. With the festival approaching rapidly, devotees are now waiting to see what steps the administration takes.

The central question remains: despite the Chief Minister’s announcement and the budgetary provision, when will construction of the permanent Chhath ghats actually begin? Equally important is what special arrangements the administration will make this year to ensure devotees’ safety, cleanliness and access to essential facilities during the festival.

(SDNA | With Truth, The Voice of Society)