Patna, Oct. 16: This Chhath, expect spick and span ghats. For, the district administration has sought help of corporate houses to clean them ahead of the festival.
Confirming the development, district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “We have invited corporate houses to participate in the cleaning of ghats ahead of Bihar’s most popular festival. Besides, they can involve themselves in making other arrangements for the Chhath devotees. They can install lights at ghats and provide drinking water to people.”
Expressing his happiness over the response to his idea so far, Singh said: “Few corporate houses contacted me to support the concept of involving them in making arrangements for the Chhath festival. I will not disclose their names, though.”
The business houses appeared keen to be involved in the preparations for Chhath. The Bihar sales head of Volkswagen, Rajan Verma, said: “The initiative taken by the district administration is praiseworthy. Chhath festival is purely for the people of Bihar and as a corporate house we would like to give maximum support to the idea of involving business houses in the preparations for Chhath. It is, in fact, our social responsibility.”
The DM said the corporate houses engaging themselves in cleaning ghats or in making other arrangements for Chhath devotees would be allowed to display their banners and posters at ghats. “It will be a good opportunity for the business houses to promote their products.”
Verma echoed Singh on the business opportunities by getting involved in Chhath preparations. “We can develop a sentimental attachment with customers by extending support to the festival. Our company would be the first to support the idea,” Verma said.
The Chhath devotees also liked the idea of involving corporate houses in Chhath preparations. Sushila Devi, a resident of Lodhipur Colony, said: “Every year the state machinery goofs up in Chhath preparations. I think private companies will make better arrangements. The initiative taken by the district magistrate is commendable.”
The decision to involve corporate houses in Chhath preparations triggered speculation that the district administration was facing funds crunch. But the DM denied it. “If there is an impression that we are involving business houses because of scarcity of funds, it is completely wrong.”
The district administration, meanwhile, is planning to install stands on the banks of the Ganga to keep dauras (bamboo baskets in which fruits and other material for prayer are kept). “Till the last year, devotees had to keep their dauras on ground. But this time, we have planned to provide stands at the ghats to keep dauras. I do not know whether the plan would materialise or not because of time shortage, but I will try my best to execute it,” Singh said.
The district administration would also seek help of Guddu Baba, the man working for the cause of clean Ganga for the past 15 years. “I have contacted Guddu Baba and will have a meeting with him. He must be having several ideas on cleaning the ghats,” Singh said, adding that the administration would make proper arrangements at the lone Surya (sun) temple in the city at Paliganj ahead of the festival.
