Compromise on amenities

Lack of security, cleanliness, maintenance and dilapidated approach roads with knee-deep mud — all this cannot undermine the popularity of Barari Ghat (previously called Jahaj Ghat) among Chhath revellers here. Devotees prefer this ghat for their Chhath rituals because the mainstream Ganga is still available here as against other ghats from which the river has drifted away.

“Though it is difficult for my family to reach Barari Ghat, we prefer to observe Chhath there because we get access to the main stream there,” said Pappu Kumar, a resident of Nilkanth Nagar, 8km away from the ghat. He said it is not as bad for devotees who can reach the ghats in their own or hired vehicles, given the dilapidated condition of the approach roads. “But devotees like me, who have no option than to walk barefoot, carrying the Chhath soop on their heads, have to brave tremendous difficulties on the approach roads to the Barari Ghat. At the Barari Ghat, the steps leading to the water body were constructed 3-4 years ago.

“We do a lot to prevent devotees from facing problems here but the dilapidated roads cause great hardships. Despite that, hundreds of devotees not only perform Chhath here but visit this ghat daily,” said Sujit Kumar, a tea-stall owner near Barari Ghat. Women also complain about absence of changing rooms at Barari Ghat. When asked, mayor Deepak Bhubania said the road would be repaired shortly. Till the edition went to press, the condition of Barari Ghat remained the same. Last-minute drive to clean natural lake Even a week back, most of the ghats on both sides of Motijheel — the only natural lake in Motihari town — were waiting for a thorough clean-up drive.

People here usually perform Chhath rituals on the bank of Motijheel but the condition of most ghats is deplorable for want of maintenance. Of 38 Chhath ghats under the nagar parishad’s jurisdiction here, 34 are situated along the Motijheel and they remain covered with grass and hyacinth all year round. Just a few days ahead of Chhath, the nagar parishad wakes up to take part in a cleanliness drive in the larger interest of people. A large number of Chhath ghats along Motijheel remain sunk deep in filth throughout the year and are also used as dhobi ghats (by launderers to wash clothes). The sprawling Rowing Club ghat is the most preferred by Chhath devotees where outer premises of the club had been cleaned for Diwali but the main portion of the ghat used by devotees for offering arghya was still filthy. Some washermen were seen washing clothes there last Wednesday.