New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with other cabinet ministers of the newly formed BJP government, participated in the Yamuna Aarti at Vasudev Ghat on Thursday evening. The event, held just days after the BJP assumed power in Delhi, took place few hours after the new ministry was sworn in.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by key cabinet members, including Parvesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh. Several BJP leaders and religious figures were also present for the Aarti.

Earlier in the day, cleaning operations were conducted along the Yamuna’s banks near Vasudev Ghat as part of the preparations.

Vasudev Ghat: A landmark

Vasudev Ghat is located along the western bank of the Yamuna, between Yamuna Ghat and Nigam Bodh Ghat in Kashmere Gate. It is the first ghat developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and was inaugurated in March 2024 by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena. Previously, the area was inaccessible due to silt deposits and waste accumulation. Following restoration efforts, the ghat now features landscaped gardens, carved pavilions, seasonal flower beds, and over 2,000 native and naturalised trees. A statue of "Maa Yamuna" has been installed alongside a 300kg metal bell sourced from Jalesar, Uttar Pradesh.

Political and environmental context

The Yamuna’s pollution was a major campaign issue during the Delhi elections, with the BJP pledging to clean the river as part of its governance agenda. The evening Aarti at Vasudev Ghat is seen as a symbolic step reinforcing this commitment.

Since coming to power, the BJP-led administration has initiated a four-pronged river-cleaning strategy. Delhi LG V.K. Saxena has instructed officials to expedite the process, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reiteration of the importance of the Yamuna cleanup during BJP’s victory celebrations. Efforts include the deployment of weed harvesters, dredgers, and trash skimmers to clear pollutants from the river.

The Delhi government aims to restore the entire 57km stretch of the Yamuna flowing through the capital, spanning from Haryana to the Uttar Pradesh border.

While the event highlights the new administration’s focus on environmental and cultural revitalisation, its long-term impact on Yamuna’s restoration remains to be seen.