CM Yogi Attends Chhath Mahaparv Celebrations on the Banks of Gomti in Lucknow, Offers Prayers to Chhathi Maiya and Sun God in Bhojpuri
Before 2017, There Was No Proper Cleaning or Security Arrangements at Ghats; Festivals Are Now Celebrated in an Atmosphere of Harmony: CM Yogi
CM Yogi Remembers Singer Sharda Sinha on Chhath Mahaparv, Describes Folk Songs as the Soul of the Festival
There Is No Discrimination Based on Caste or Social Status During Chhath Mahaparv; Everyone Is Equal at the Ghat: CM Yogi
No Compromise on the Safety of Mothers and Sisters; Criminals Will Face Such Punishment That They Will Remember It: CM
Families from Purvanchal and Bihar Have Made Lucknow Their Home and Are Playing an Important Role in the City's Development
Journey from Disturbances to Celebrations Defines the New Uttar Pradesh of a New India: Chief Minister
Lucknow, November 2026 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the evening Arghya ceremony organised at the Chhath Ghat located at Laxman Mela Ground on the banks of the Gomti River in Lucknow on Sunday, on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Mahaparv, the great festival of public faith.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that opposition leaders considered it their birthright to criticise and insult India's Sanatan traditions. Before 2017, festivals were marked by disorder and anarchy due to the indifference of successive governments. The government remained a silent spectator during disturbances, but the situation had now changed. Today, festivals such as Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Chhath Mahaparv were being celebrated across the state with great enthusiasm, peace and communal harmony.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the programme by lighting a ceremonial lamp and offered Arghya to the setting Sun, praying for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the state. He also showered flower petals on devotees, expressing his reverence for Chhathi Maiya. Prabhunath Rai, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Bhojpuri Samaj, welcomed and felicitated the Chief Minister. Folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi presented traditional Chhath songs during the programme. The Chief Minister felicitated her and also released a magazine on the occasion.
Sharda Sinha's voice gave Chhath songs global recognition
CM Yogi said that songs associated with Chhath Mahaparv were now being heard in every corner of the country and the world. He said the festival could not be considered complete without remembering the late Sharda Sinha, the celebrated singer and Padma awardee who gave Chhath songs global recognition.
Just as Chhath represented the soul of India's popular religious faith, Sharda Sinha's voice had remained its living heartbeat, he said. Through her popular songs, she had brought international recognition to the festival. The Chief Minister paid his respects to Sharda Sinha's memory and offered her a heartfelt tribute.
CM Yogi offers prayers to Chhathi Maiya and Sun God in Bhojpuri
The Chief Minister offered prayers to Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya in Bhojpuri, expressing his wish that everyone's aspirations be fulfilled and that the blessings of the deities remain upon all.
He said folk singing, folk music and folk artists had taken traditional festivals and cultural practices to new heights. When a melodious tune becomes associated with a folk festival, it gains acceptance among people and becomes their collective voice.
Chhath Mahaparv, he said, provides an opportunity to express gratitude for nature, water and the immense blessings of the Sun God. It was a matter of good fortune that Uttar Pradesh had been blessed with sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Rapti and Gomti.
Festivals and cultural traditions suffered before 2017; the entire state is now celebrating with enthusiasm
On the occasion, CM Yogi said that before 2017, the condition of festivals and cultural traditions in Uttar Pradesh was extremely poor. At that time, there were neither proper cleaning arrangements at the ghats nor adequate facilities for lighting, security and the movement of devotees. The government remained a silent spectator during disturbances, making it difficult even to imagine the peaceful organisation of festivals.
Today, Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Chhath Mahaparv were being celebrated throughout the state with enthusiasm, peace and harmony.
The Chief Minister said that people must have read the statement made by a Member of Parliament belonging to a political party the previous day. The MP had raised questions about Durga Puja, the Kanwar Yatra and Chhath Mahaparv as well. Such people, he said, were enemies of culture and society. They saw discrimination in Chhath Mahaparv and hypocrisy in Durga Puja and the Kanwar Yatra because their own lives were filled with hypocrisy.
He alleged that such people said one thing but behaved differently, and considered it their birthright to criticise and insult India's Sanatan traditions.
Chhath is a festival of Sun worship without discrimination or complicated rituals
CM Yogi said Chhath was the divine light of India's Sanatan cultural soul, conveying the message of devotion, purity, self-purification and strict discipline. Observing a fast without water for three consecutive days was itself a difficult spiritual practice. The ritual, which continues from Panchami to Saptami, symbolises unwavering faith and devotion towards the Sun God.
He said another unique feature of Chhath was that devotees offered Arghya with equal devotion and respect to both the rising Sun and the setting Sun. This tradition conveys an important message about life: human beings should maintain the same attitude during both rise and decline, and in times of happiness as well as sorrow.
The Chief Minister said worship of Shashthi Devi, also known as Chhathi Maiya, was an integral part of Chhath Mahaparv. According to popular belief, she is worshipped as the goddess who protects children and blesses families with good health, happiness and prosperity.
He said there might be hardly any other major festival in the world in which an ordinary person could directly communicate with the visible deity of the universe, Lord Surya, without discrimination or complicated rituals.
He added that the greatest strength of Chhath was its simplicity and collective participation. Family members come together and offer Arghya to the Sun God using naturally available grains and other offerings. The festival conveys a remarkable message of gratitude towards nature, family unity and social harmony.
Chhath Mahaparv is a great example of social harmony, equality and unity
The Chief Minister described Chhath Mahaparv as one of the finest examples of social harmony, equality and unity. He said that at the ghat, nobody was inferior or superior, high or low. Everyone was equal.
The festival, he said, reflected the spirit of the saying, "No one should be asked about caste; whoever worships the Lord belongs to the Lord."
CM Yogi said the greatest strength of the festival was the contribution of women. Mothers and sisters observe a rigorous fast without water for 36 hours, undertaking intense religious austerities. Their fast was not merely for the happiness and prosperity of their own families but was also dedicated to the welfare of society and the nation as a whole.
The Chief Minister said the celebration of Chhath Mahaparv in Lucknow held special significance. The event, initiated by the Akhil Bharatiya Bhojpuri Samaj under the leadership of Prabhunath Rai, was no longer restricted to the Bhojpuri community. It had evolved into a festival that brought together people from all sections and communities.
Folk singer Malini Awasthi was an example of this cultural inclusiveness. Originally from Kanpur and associated with the Awadh region, she was equally proficient in Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Hindi folk singing. This, he said, reflected the broad reach of the event and the unity of India's diverse cultural traditions.
People from Purvanchal and Bihar have contributed significantly to Lucknow's development
The Chief Minister said that millions of families from Purvanchal and Bihar were now living in Lucknow. Through their hard work, talent and entrepreneurial spirit, these families had made an important contribution to the city's development.
They had made Lucknow their home, and Lucknow had also accepted them as members of its own family. He said Uttar Pradesh's identity was not defined by any single language, region or community. Its real identity lay in its inclusive culture, diversity and unity.
CM Yogi said the entire state was filled with the spirit of celebration and enthusiasm. A grand Deepotsav had been organised in Ayodhya on November 7, while Diwali had also been celebrated throughout Uttar Pradesh in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
The Chief Minister said he had held a video conference four days earlier to review preparations for Chhath Mahaparv. During the meeting, he had sought information from various districts about the expected participation of devotees.
According to estimates shared during the review, around 20 lakh people were expected to participate in the celebrations in Varanasi and 16 lakh in Gorakhpur. Lakhs of devotees were also participating in the festival in districts including Ghazipur, Ballia, Azamgarh, Mau, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
No compromise on the safety of women; strict action against criminals
The Chief Minister said that earlier there were no proper arrangements for cleaning the ghats, adequate lighting, security of devotees or smooth movement of visitors. Today, the government had ensured the cleaning of ghats, developed additional ghats and constructed platforms for women observing the fast.
Extensive arrangements had been made to ensure that devotees did not face any inconvenience. Additional buses and train services had also been arranged for people travelling to their villages and homes for Chhath Mahaparv so that everyone could reach their destinations safely.
He said police patrolling and security arrangements would be ensured at the ghats from late at night to facilitate devotees offering Arghya to the rising Sun.
CM Yogi asserted that there would be no compromise on the safety of mothers and sisters in the state. No one would be allowed to violate their security. Those committing crimes against women would face such strict action under the law that they would remember it, he said.
Uttar Pradesh has moved from disturbances to celebrations; this is the identity of a new India and a new UP
CM Yogi said the journey from disturbances to celebrations represented the transformation of Uttar Pradesh. The state that people were witnessing today represented the identity of a new India and a new Uttar Pradesh. He said people must understand the value of this transformation and preserve it.
The Chief Minister said he had been informed that 200 artists from the Bhojpuri community would continuously present Bhojpuri songs for 18 hours to express their devotion and respect for Chhathi Maiya.
He asked whether such an event would have been possible before 2017. At that time, even before artists could perform, disruptive elements would have spoiled the atmosphere, he said. The situation had now changed completely, with everyone participating in the event peacefully and with devotion.
Peace and security provide the foundation for development, heritage and festive celebrations
The Chief Minister said devotees were observing their fasts with complete devotion and offering Arghya to the setting Sun. There was no problem anywhere. This peaceful and secure environment, he said, formed the foundation for development, preservation of heritage and the joy of festivals.
Development, protection of heritage and festive celebrations were possible only in an atmosphere of security. The excellent balance between heritage and development had created an atmosphere of enthusiasm throughout Uttar Pradesh.
CM Yogi said heritage did not mean only what people inherited from their ancestors; it also included what they passed on to future generations. The peaceful and celebratory atmosphere created in the state today was also part of its heritage.
He said it was the responsibility of the present generation to pass this legacy to the coming generations so that they could also carry forward their culture and traditions with the same devotion, respect and enthusiasm.
The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone who participated in the Chhath Mahaparv celebrations and to the people of the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Legislative Council Member Pawan Singh, Legislative Council Member Mukesh Sharma, Lucknow BJP Metropolitan President Anand Dwivedi and other office-bearers were present on the occasion.
