Are Private Boats Banned At Bihar's Chhath Ghats? New Rules Explained

As one of the biggest festivals in Eastern India, Chhath Puja witnesses immense fervor in its celebrations across states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Millions of Devotees or Vratins gather along riverbanks, lakes, and ponds to offer Usha Arghya and Sandhya Arghya, which are the morning and evening oblations. Wherever there is such a large number of people, especially near water bodies like rivers, there is a safety risk that authorities will need to manage. As such, the Bihar State Government and Patna District Administration strictly ban private, uninspected, and unauthorized Desi Naav (country boats) along Chhath Ghats during Chhath Puja rituals.

Why Private Country Boats Are Banned

The major reason for the ban is, of course, safety. Many devotees wade into the waters, and that can be risky. As such, the District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of riverfront districts, including Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Saran, issue strict orders under Section 144/CrPC, and equivalent public safety directives, which are as follows:

Total Prohibition On Unlicensed Country Boats

All private, uninspected timber boats, traditional rowboats or naav, and commercial passenger ferries operated by private individuals without official municipal licenses are strictly banned from plying near the designated bathing and Arghya zones of all river ghats.

Overcrowding And Capsizing Prevention

Unlicensed private boats often lack basic safety gear, such as life jackets, buoyant rings, and adequate balance controls. In past years, unregulated private boats have overloaded passengers, and while trying to get a water-side view of the Arghya, posed severe capsizing hazards.

Engine-Propelled Private Launches Restricted

When motorized private boats move in water, they generate heavy water wakes and swells. These artificial waves end up disrupting the devotees who are sometimes standing chest-deep in water near barricaded danger lines. This also creates accidental slipping risks along the slippery underwater silt shelves.

Also Read: How To Reach Chhath Puja Ghats In Patna? Routes, Transport, And Visitor Tips

Timings And Geographic Scope Of The Boat Ban

The boat ban is applicable from the midday of Kharna, which is the second day of Chhath, all the way through the afternoon of Usha, which is the fourth day. The main zone in which these boats are disallowed is 500 meters from the riverbank shoreline across all dangerous and safe ghats.

It is important to keep in mind that the boat ban is an enforceable police order backed by constant river patrols, and not a mere advisory. The organizations responsible for enforcing this ban are the Bihar State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Patna River Police.

This particular restriction spans the entirety of the Ganga riverbed under Patna municipal limits. It also means that this restriction will stretch from the Digha Ghat Lock Gate Ghat in the west to Kangan Ghat and Jhauganj Ghat in Patna City (east). It will also include major hubs like Collectorate Ghat, NIT Ghat, and Gandhi Ghat.

What Boats Are Allowed on the River During Chhath?

Another important thing to note here is that while private commercial and uninspected personal boats are completely banned, authorized rescue and monitoring vessels maintain continuous river presence to safeguard devotees. As such, the following are the types of official boats that are actually allowed in the water during Chhath:

1. Motorized Rescue Speedboats

These are high-speed water rescue boats and are for continuous patrol beyond red danger lines.

Who Can Operate Them: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

2. Inflatable Rubber Boats (IRBs)

The IRBs are for close-range shore patrol along barricaded riverbank zones. 

Who Can Operate Them: State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)

3. Official River Police Patrols

These patrol boats are there to ensure law enforcement, crowd monitoring, and halting illegal boat launches.

Who Can Operate Them: Patna River Police (Patna Police)

4. Licensed Municipal Barges

The barges are mainly for emergency medical transport platforms and public address towers.

Who Can Operate Them: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC)

5. Civil Defense And Diver Skiffs

The diver skiffs are for certified local expert divers, or Gotakhors, on standby duty.

Who Can Operate Them: District Disaster Management (DDMA)

Also Read: Indian Railways Announces 1,053 Special Trains For Chhath, Durga Puja, Diwali; See Full List

Summing Up

Chhath Puja, which is taking place between Friday, Nov 13th and Monday, Nov 16th, is an occasion of celebration, and by putting these regulations in place, the officials are ensuring that the jovial festival doesn’t turn into an unfortunate event. Hence, there is a ban on unlicensed, uninspected country rowboats or Naav. Unauthorized private motorboats, too, are banned within 500m of ghat zones. The enforcement of this rule will be ensured by joint teams of NDRF, SDRF, and Patna River Police. If people fail to comply or if such banned boats are found plying in the water, violators can face seizure of their boats, cancelation of their license, and legal booking under Public Safety Acts.