Devotees gathered on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi for Chhath Puja rituals, standing and bathing in river water covered with a visible layer of toxic foam. Photos from Firstpost show worshippers performing the rites near Kalindi Kunj and the Okhla Barrage. Chhath Puja requires standing in flowing water while offering prayers to the Sun god—and devotees said they had no practical alternative.
The ritual has opened a political blame game between Delhi and neighboring states, with AAP leader Raghav Chadha pointing upstream at Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for the pollution.
Quick take
- Chhath Puja requires standing in flowing water, so devotees entered the foam rather than skip the rite.
- Foam was visible at the Okhla Barrage area and near Kalindi Kunj.
- AAP's Raghav Chadha blamed UP and Haryana governments for upstream pollution.
- Images credit ANI and Reuters.
Background: why the Yamuna foams at Delhi
The Yamuna is one of India's most polluted urban rivers, especially through Delhi, where untreated sewage and industrial discharge feed algal blooms. When phosphate-heavy water mixes and gets churned at barrages like Okhla, thick foam surfaces downstream. It is a regular winter sight, tied to low flow, cold weather, and high nutrient loads.
State boundaries cut through the catchment. The Okhla Barrage falls under UP irrigation jurisdiction—explaining why political finger-pointing runs upstream as much as downstream.
Our analysis
The story is less about one festival and more about a recurring gap between ritual obligation and environmental reality. Devotees in the photos are aware the water is dirty and still enter it because the rite demands flowing water. That tension is the engine of this annual news cycle.
Politically, it is a convenient moment to relitigate who runs the river. Operationally, the foam is a symptom of the same sewage and industrial treatment failures that have dragged on for decades. Until those get fixed at the source, devotees will keep choosing between faith and health.
The trade-off is stark: skip the rite and preserve health, or perform it and risk it. Neither option is acceptable. The only real solution is infrastructure investment upstream.
Who loses if nothing changes:
- Worshippers facing skin irritation, respiratory issues, and waterborne illness
- Downstream ecosystems still choked by nutrient overload
- Delhi's groundwater and riverine biodiversity
Who benefits from inaction:
- Nobody in the long term
- Politically: temporary ammunition for opposition attacks
What to watch next
- Next CPCB or DPCC water quality bulletins from the Yamuna at Okhla and downstream
- Whether the political fight produces treatment upgrades or just another round of statements
- If any new infrastructure funding gets allocated to UP irrigation or Delhi sewage treatment
Who should care
- Devotees and families in Delhi**: The foam returns every winter. Factor it into planning next year.
- Delhi residents near the river**: Keep windows closed on heavy-foam days; keep children and pets away from the bank.
- Voters in Delhi, UP, and Haryana**: Demand answers from representatives about sewage treatment timelines.
- Travelers to Delhi in winter**: Do not assume the river is safe to touch.
Key takeaways
- Devotees entered foam-covered Yamuna water to perform Chhath Puja rituals.
- Foam at Okhla Barrage is a regular winter feature tied to sewage and algal blooms.
- Politicians traded blame between Delhi, UP, and Haryana; the real fix is upstream sewage treatment.
- Watch water quality bulletins for actual data on pollutant levels.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there foam on the Yamuna?
Untreated sewage, industrial effluent, and algal blooms get churned at barrages like Okhla, producing the thick foam seen each winter.
Is the foam dangerous?
The river is heavily polluted; prolonged skin contact or accidental ingestion carries health risks, especially for children and the elderly.
Who is blamed for the pollution?
AAP's Raghav Chadha pointed at UP and Haryana governments; the Okhla Barrage sits under UP irrigation, but untreated sewage flows in from multiple states and Delhi itself.
Could the rituals be moved away from the river?
Traditional Chhath Puja centers on standing in flowing water, so devotees in Delhi tend to use the Yamuna regardless. Some temples and ghats provide symbolic alternatives in other cities.