As preparations for the Chhath festival gather momentum in Ambikapur, discontent is rising alongside devotion. In the constituency of Chhattisgarh’s Minister for Culture, Tourism, Religious Trusts and Endowments, Rajesh Agrawal, residents have taken to the streets in protest against the appalling condition of the road leading to Shankar Ghat, a key site for Chhath rituals.
The main approach road to the ghat is riddled with potholes filled with stagnant water, making it nearly impassable for devotees who will soon throng the area to offer arghya to the Sun God. On Saturday, local residents and social activists held a demonstration demanding immediate repairs, calling the state of the road “a reflection of administrative apathy.”
Social worker Rameshwar Vishwakarma expressed his frustration by lying down in the water-filled potholes as a symbolic protest. “During Chhath, women perform dandvat, a ritual of prostration, on their way to the ghat. But with the road full of mud and water, how will they perform this sacred act?” he asked. “We had demanded repairs before the monsoon, but nothing was done. Both the minister and the MP represent this region, yet no one seems concerned about the people’s hardship.”
Responding to the protest, Surguja MP Chintamani Maharaj acknowledged the problem but offered no concrete timeline for repairs. “I came to know about the issue yesterday but couldn’t contact the officials as I was busy. I will raise this matter in the Disha Committee meeting and ensure the road work begins soon,” he said.
Aam Aadmi Party’s state vice president Rajendra Bahadur Singh also joined the protest, criticising the state government. “It is shameful that in the constituency of the Religious Affairs Minister, the road used by devotees to reach the ghat for such a major festival is filled with potholes. When party members receive even small posts, walls are plastered with posters. But when people face genuine problems, no one shows up,” Singh remarked.
With the Chhath festival set to begin, thousands of devotees will have to navigate the same broken, waterlogged road to reach Shankar Ghat. Locals have warned that if repairs are not undertaken immediately, they will continue their agitation even during the festival. Attempts to contact the concerned officials and Minister Rajesh Agrawal for their response remained unsuccessful.
Such civic neglect ahead of major festivals has become a recurring concern across several districts of Chhattisgarh. Despite repeated assurances from local administrations, last-minute infrastructure failures, from damaged approach roads to unclean water bodies, continue to dampen festive preparations.