Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Arrangements have been made in multiple ghats and ponds in the city.
The Telegraph gives a lowdown on the festival, the restrictions and the arrangements.
When: The Chhath rituals will be performed on Sunday evening and Monday morning.
Ghats: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) have made arrangements in over 150 ghats, including 16 along the Hooghly, for the rituals.
Some important ghats along the Hooghly are Doi ghat, Takta ghat, Baje Kadamtala ghat, Bag Bazar ghat, Mayer ghat, Ahiritola ghat, Nimtala ghat and Ratan Babu ghat.
Civic officials said devotees from north, west and central Kolkata mostly visit the ghats along the Hooghly, while those from south and central Kolkata prefer visiting ponds closer home. The Hooghly flows along the western boundary of the city.
The KMDA has built ghats near Bengal Lamp in Jadavpur, a few ghats in Nonadanga, one in Jodhpur Park, one near Garden High School in Kasba, among others. All of these are water bodies. While the KMDA has built permanent steps around some of the water bodies, they have built temporary steps only for Chhath.
The KMC has built four artificial tanks where devotees can perform rituals — in Panditiya, Chatuskone Park near the Rashbehari crossing, near Citizens Park on Cornfield Road and near Tolly Club.
Many people also build small tanks in their houses to perform the rituals.
Facilities: Civic officials said the ghats have sufficient lights, changing rooms, drinking water facilities and toilets.
Off-limits: Rabindra Sarobar, off Southern Avenue, and Subhas Sarobar, off EM Bypass, will remain closed between 10pm on Saturday and noon on Monday. Even morning walkers or other visitors will be not be allowed to enter.
Firecracker and other rules: No firecrackers are allowed. Only green crackers will be allowed in a two-hour window between 6am and 8am on Chhath, the Calcutta High Court has said.
Civic officials said devotees should not throw oil, flowers or fruits in the water as these will impact the aquatic lives. There will be separate enclosures at the ghats where these items can be discarded.
Loud music/DJ is banned.
Emergency numbers:
Kolkata police control room: 22143230
Kolkata police traffic control room: 22143644
Bidhannagar commissionerate control room: 23358788
Howrah city police control room: 2637-4761, 2637-4762, 2641-5614, 2640-4001
Barrackpore city police: 2593-2647, 2545-5030
Emergency helpline: 100
Fire brigade control room: 22861570, 22521165
KMC control room: 22861212/ 1313/1414
