Patna, the historic Darbhanga House, the newly constructed District Collector’s Complex and ‘Sabhyata Dwar’ are among the many public buildings along the banks of the Ganga in Patna that have been illuminated in blue ahead of the Chhath festival.

The night lighting of these structures, some of which face popular ancient ghats of the city such as the Collectorate Ghat and Kali Ghat, was carried out as part of a ‘Go Blue’ campaign by the district administration from Patna.

“Recently, we made a public appeal to individuals and private entities who own properties located along the Ganga ghats, to also illuminate these buildings with blue colored lights, the theme of illumination during the Bihar Diwas celebrations here every year, to mark Chhath festivities,” a senior official told PTI.

The Chhath festival, celebrated for four days as ‘Mahaparv’ in Bihar, will be held this year from November 5 to 8. On the last two days, devotees offer “arghya”, first at setting sun and the next day at rising sun.

After dark on Sunday, the over 120-year-old Darbhanga House, a palace built by the erstwhile Darbhanga Raj Estate and currently housing the PG department of Patna University, stood out against the city ​​skyline.

The palatial building, known for its iconic architecture and aesthetic grandeur, faces the Kali Ghat along the river, which attracts a large number of devotees during Chhath celebrations. The building also houses an ancient Kali temple.

Traditionally, people gather along the banks of the Ganges to observe this ancient festival, but due to the impact of rapid urbanization on the river and other constraints, many now prefer to perform rituals either in plans of water nearby, or on roofs using makeshift arrangements.

The Collectorate Ghat is an example of where the river water receded, but only to return during the monsoon season.

The new high-rise complex, expected to be inaugurated soon after the Chhath Puja, has been decorated with blue lights and commuters taking the Ganga Drive built along the river can get a glimpse of the lighting. A huge neon sign ‘Samharanalay Patna’, mounted on its roof, glows bright red at night, adding to its aura.

“This illumination of the new Collectorate complex started around Diwali,” the official said.

The old Collectorate was a group of heritage buildings from the Dutch and British periods, which were demolished in the second half of 2022 to make way for the new complex, despite protests from several quarters.

Until recent years, devotees from distant parts of the state would gather at the old Collectorate campus and some would even camp there for four days to observe Chhath, as the eponymous ghat is located right next to the site.

The buildings of the old Collectorate were part of the collective consciousness of the city’s residents, as several generations visited it for official work and the Collectorate Ghat during Chhat Puja, creating an emotional bond.

The demolition of its heritage buildings “broke this cultural bond”, many heritage experts had argued after the historic structures were razed as part of the Patna Collectorate redevelopment project, considered a pet project of the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar.

The Patna district administration is currently working in full gear to make all necessary arrangements for the Chhath Puja, when thousands of people will throng the ghats from Digha to Deedarganj.

In its appeal notice, which was also shared on its social media platforms, the district administration said the ‘Go Blue’ campaign was launched due to the connection of ‘Chhath Mahaparv’ with historical heritage and cultural heritage of Bihar, and to celebrate it safely and in communal harmony.

This year, it has been decided to dress the ghats and the paths leading to them with blue lights, as was the case during the Bihar Diwas celebrations, the announcement in Hindi said.

The riverside facade of the ‘Sabhyata Dwar’, a modern ceremonial gate built in an ancient style and located at the rear of the Gyan Bhawan complex near Gandhi Maidan, has also been decorated with blue lights.

Some of the under-construction high-rise buildings of Patna Medical College and Hospital, which are also undergoing a radical transformation as part of a phased redevelopment project located near Darbhanga House, among other buildings, have also been clad. with a few strands of blue lights.

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology building, located next to the PMCH, also takes on a blue hue after dark thanks to the lighting.

Apart from the buildings along the ghats, some buildings in the main city, such as Biscomaun Bhawan facing Gandhi Maidan, have also been lit thematically.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modification to the text.