Ara Collectorate Pond is like the melting pot of religions, with a temple, church and mosque existing on its three sides, but certain factors endanger observation of Chhath Puja there this year.

Thousands have performed Chhath every year at this pond in Bhojpur district. The pond was built by the British to indulge in boating and merry-making. They later built a church on the southern side of the pond for King George V to pray at on his way to New Delhi to attend the Delhi Darbar in 1911.

Later, a mosque was built to the pond’s northeast for the Muslims. After Independence, a Sun Temple came up to the northwest of the

pond in 1982. Today, these three places of worship have become symbols of communal harmony. Hindus, Muslims and Christians are seen offering prayers side by side without any hindrance or objection and they also cooperate with one another on different occasions.

Thousands perform Chhath twice a year at the pond. Some Muslim families, too, perform the rituals with equal devotion. The ghats are first spruced up and the water in it cleaned. It is then decorated with lights and pandals. Some social organisations set up stalls around the pond and distribute milk for oblation apart from first aid and other facilities.

But the festival hangs in balance this year as stairs built with funds provided by the MLA here lead to nowhere. The pond seems to be vanishing. It has practically dried up. One can only see a variety of insects and worms now where the water should have existed. The authorities have done nothing to fill the pond with water. “It will be difficult to perform Chhath there this year,” rued Rajendra Ojha, a resident.

He said at least 15,000 people perform Chhath at the Collectorate ghats every year, but the district administration has not cleaned the ponds yet. “Even garbage is lying there unattended.”

To add to devotees’ miseries, district officials have encircled the pond.

Residents themselves are cleaning the area and preparing the ghats. Though the MMP office and the SDO of Ara are situated near the pond and guards are deputed round the clock, residents continue to dirty the area.

Chhath Puja is also performed at Sone Canal, Chandawa Pond, Gangi and on the banks of the river Ganga, Sone and at a number of other ponds in Bhojpur district but everywhere it is the same story of official apathy with the administration indifferent to devotees’ comfort as pigs rummage through garbage heaps scattered along the banks and makeshift huts block approach roads to the ghats. The Sone canal flowing through Ara is contaminated with dirty water flowing from sewage drains.

Ara Municipal Corporation mayor Priyam Devi visited the Collectorate pond and directed officials to clean up all ghats in Ara at the earliest so that devotees can perform Chhath in a pious and pure atmosphere.

Bhojpur district magistrate Sanjeev Kumar claimed elaborate security arrangements had been made for Chhath and dangerous ghats were marked so that they can be given special attention.

NDRF teams, doctors, magistrates, police force will be deployed and a ban imposed on use of crackers at the ghat site as also ferrying of boats on Chhath day.