In a major intervention, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to allow Chhath Puja rituals on the bank of river Yamuna in Geeta Colony, citing serious concerns over pollution. The court emphasized the health risks and noted the dangerous level of pollutants in the river.

“It would be dangerous to perform any ritual in the Yamuna as the pollution levels are so high that anyone taking a dip could be at serious risk,” said the court, headed by Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

Delhi government lawyer Santosh Kumar Tripathi supported the court’s decision, highlighting that toxic pollutants make the river unsuitable for rituals and could cause devotees to fall ill. Tripathi informed the court that the government has designated 1,000 alternative Chhath Puja sites across the city with necessary amenities to host the celebrations.

This decision follows a recent court order in the Shabnam Burney case, which highlighted the critical levels of pollution in the Yamuna. Despite these warnings, some devotees took a dip in the Yamuna on the first day of Chhath Puja, where dense layers of toxic foam could be seen on the surface of the water in Kalindi Kunj.

Chhath Puja, widely celebrated by Delhi’s Purvanchali community of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, has political significance and the community comprises a substantial part of the city’s voter base. As the assembly elections approach, the event has drawn attention to issues of pollution and civic responsibility.