Delhi extends Festival Hours to Midnight
New Delhi – Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a meaningful extension of permissible hours for Ramlila, Durga Puja, and othre cultural and religious festivals, allowing events to continue until midnight. The decision addresses longstanding concerns about restrictions placed on Hindu festivals within the capital.
Gupta stated, “I always noticed that our Hindu festivals face difficulties, because Ramlila or Durga Puja can never end at 10 pm. when Dandiya can go on all night in Gujarat,when events can happen all night in other states,then why can’t the same be for the people of Delhi? So this time we’ve given permission to all Ramlilas,durga Pujas,and cultural-religious festivals to continue until 12 am…” The move comes during the ongoing nine-day Navratri festival,celebrated with devotion across the country and marked by traditions like fasting,devotional singing,Garba,and Dandiya.
The extension aims to provide greater adaptability for devotees during the festive season. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier prayed to Goddess Brahmacharini on the second day of Navratri, seeking blessings for all. Sharadiya Navratri, observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, is a nine-night celebration of the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess durga.