GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Nov. In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Delhi government has announced a public holiday on November 7 in celebration of Chhath Puja, a significant festival for the Purvanchali community. Delhi minister Atishi made the announcement on social media platform X, expressing happiness about the decision, which aims to allow the Purvanchali community to celebrate the festival “with pomp and show.”
The declaration comes just months before the assembly polls, highlighting the importance of the Purvanchali electorate, which, according to government data, comprises approximately 42 percent of Delhi’s voters. This community, primarily hailing from Bihar, holds substantial influence over electoral outcomes in key constituencies such as Burari, Dwarka, and Laxmi Nagar, which are pivotal for the 70 assembly seats in the capital.
Chhath Puja, also known as Surya Shashti, is a revered festival celebrated over four days, primarily in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The festival involves married women observing a rigorous 36-hour fast and making offerings to the Sun God, including wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas, and coconuts.
The timing of the holiday announcement coincides with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) initiative to connect with the Purvanchali community, aiming to win over their support in the elections. The BJP has been striving to reclaim its political dominance in Delhi, where it has not held power for over two and a half decades. The outreach efforts, alongside the public holiday, signify a larger strategy to engage and secure the loyalty of Purvanchali voters during this critical election period.
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