Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday visited various Chhath ghats to convey her greetings and best wishes to devotees and offer prayers.
Ms. Dikshit, who had refused to entertain demands from the Bharatiya Janata Party and even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to declare Chhath a gazetted holiday in Delhi, described the festival as one of “prosperity and joy''
She said it offers an occasion to worship the Sun and has been nurturing social and cultural values of Poorvanchalis settled in the Capital city.
“This festival also helps in cementing social bonds apart from disseminating message of brotherhood, co-existence and mutual cooperation,'' she observed.
Ms. Dikshit also visited the residence of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav during the day and conveyed her greetings on the festival.
The Chief Minister said the establishment of a separate Maithili Bhojpuri Akademi has been widely applauded by Poorvanchalis in Delhi. She also noted that Poorvanchalis have contributed substantially in the development of the Capital city.