PMC standing committee approves permanent policy and separate budget for Chhath Puja in Pune

Pune, November 12, 2026: The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a proposal to frame a separate annual policy for organising Chhath Puja in the city and to set aside a fixed sum for it in the budget. The proposal was moved by corporator and standing committee member Suhas Vijay Tingre. Its aim is to ensure that devotees performing the puja get proper civic amenities and security arrangements.

The proposal asks the PMC to draw up a permanent annual planning policy for Chhath Puja on the lines of the municipal corporations of Mumbai and Thane, and to implement it regularly every year.

Chhath Puja, also called Chhath Mahaparv, is an important religious and cultural festival, especially for North Indian communities. During the four-day festival, large numbers of devotees gather at rivers, ponds and other water bodies to worship the Sun god and observe traditional rituals. The proposal stresses that devotees at designated places in Pune should get safe, clean and dignified facilities.

The main points of the proposal are as follows. A separate annual policy should be made for Chhath Puja and implemented every year. Sites should be inspected to select suitable locations for the event. Artificial ponds and temporary ghats should be built where needed. Ghats should have cleanliness, waste management and proper arrangements to collect the puja offerings (nirmalya).

Clean drinking water and water tankers should also be provided. Separate, safe and clean changing rooms should be built for women. Adequate lighting, generators, signboards giving directions and other basic facilities should be provided. CCTV cameras and barricades should be installed, and fire brigade personnel, police security, lifeguards and medical teams should be deployed.

Traffic arrangements and separate parking should be made where necessary. A single-window system should be introduced to grant the required permissions to Chhath Puja organising committees. Nodal officers should be appointed to coordinate between departments. Chhath Puja committees, social organisations and local residents should also be involved in the planning.

The proposal also seeks a separate amount in the PMC's annual budget for these arrangements. It further recommends that preparations begin at least a month before the festival to avoid a last-minute rush.

Speaking on the proposal, Tingre said, "Pune is a city that respects all religions, languages and cultures. It is the corporation's responsibility to ensure that every citizen can practise their religious faith and cultural traditions safely and with dignity. The aim of this proposal was to avoid the last-minute scramble every year and to put in place a permanent policy with adequate financial provision for organising Chhath Puja."

He added that the standing committee's approval will help in better planning and organisation of the festival in the coming years.