Ahead of the Chhath Puja, the Yamuna river in Delhi was covered with a thick layer of white foam due to rising pollution levels. Despite warnings from the High Court against performing rituals on the polluted riverbed due to health risks, thousands of devotees gathered along the riverbank to pray to the Sun God. In some areas, the foam reached knee-high, and people continued to wade through it.
In a shocking video shared on Elon Musk-owned X, an elderly woman was seen washing her hair in the foamy water, seemingly mistaking the hazardous foam for shampoo. The video, posted by user Zoro, was captioned: “I’m saying it again, Basic education is necessary for everyone. Look at how this Aunty is washing her hairs thinking that foam is shampoo !! Chhath Puja scenes from Yamuna River, Delhi.”
Watch here:
I’m saying it again, Basic education is necessary for everyone.
Look at how this Aunty is washing her hairs thinking that foam is shampoo !!📍 Chhath Puja scenes from Yamuna River, Delhi pic.twitter.com/3d4uwZXBZW
— ZORO (@BroominsKaBaap) November 5, 2024
What is Chhath Puja and Why is it Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a significant festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. It follows a strict four-day ritual and holds great importance for Delhi’s Purvanchali community, which includes Bhojpuri-speaking residents from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This community constitutes 30-40% of Delhi’s voter base, with the assembly elections coming up early next year.
In response to the pollution levels in the Yamuna, authorities deployed chemical defoamers to address the issue, but the sight of toxic foam remains a cause for concern.
