VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Oct 28: Polluted water of ponds and other reservoirs has made it difficult for vratis to offer arghya to the Sun god during Chhath festival. This made many people to construct water tanks on rooftops which results in convenience for vratis and their families to offer arghya without any difficulty in clean water.
Hazaribag town has many lakes and ponds but they witness huge footfall during this festival. Even much of the reservoir’s water is polluted making it tough for families to perform Chhath puja.
Retired government officer Ajay Kanth said earlier it was mandatory for vratis to perform arghya in water bodies. “But as time has changed with increased population, these water bodies has also become polluted. It is really very tough to perform puja in these reservoirs which is resulting in skin diseases also,” he informed.
Main Road shopkeeper Ashok Kumar said people are now purchasing rooftop tanks and cutting them into two to use as a tank for this purpose. Even they are selling other such big containers.
Septuagenarian Geeta Prasad, a resident of Okni mohalla said she saw her daughter-in-law facing difficulties in doing arghya at Hazaribag lake. So she decided to make a cemented permanent tank for this purpose.
“Now we do not need to go to the lake an hour before to grab our place. Even jams on roads make it more difficult. Now my daughter-in-law is offering arghya without any problem and even many of my relatives also joining us seeing the facility on rooftop,” she added.
Priest Anjan Upadhayay said time has changed and so it has changed people also who found the best way to perform arghya on rooftop, added he with a smile.
