Delhi CM Rekha Gupta performs Kanya Pujan, distributes bicycles to 1,000 girls in Pitampura

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrates Kanya Poojan on Thursday. PIC/ X

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday performed Kanya Pujan in Pitampura and distributed bicycles to around 1,000 girl students from nine schools.

She reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that every girl in the national capital can complete her education without any barriers, reported ANI.

Speaking to the media, Delhi CM said, "Every daughter in Delhi can complete her education without any hindrance, complete her schooling, graduate, and become what she wants to be. The government will work to remove all obstacles in her way. Many daughters often face difficulties travelling from school to home and back. Through this Vidyavahini initiative, I will provide bicycles to every girl in the ninth grade so that she can travel to and from school throughout her ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth years. This is the form of Durga, this is the form of Saraswati."

The CM also praised the girls as forms of Durga and Saraswati, emphasising their potential to bring glory to the city and the country.

"They will bring glory to this city and our country in the times to come. On behalf of the government, I salute each of my daughters and bless them profusely. May they move ahead and progress greatly, may they become who they want to be. The government will provide every comfort and facility so that they can complete their education," she added, the news agency reported.

Further, she criticised Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations regarding the construction of a 'Sheesh Mahal' with public funds.

"You all were waiting for the 'Sheesh Mahal' for a long time; now you can see the misdeeds of Kejriwal. Using public money, he built this 'Sheesh Mahal' and crossed all limits of corruption," she said.

Earlier, CM Gupta shared a heartfelt message on the occasion of Kanya Pujan, praising daughters as symbols of strength and divine blessings.

In a post on X, she wrote, "Daughters are symbols of good fortune, embodiments of strength, and sacred blessings of a mother. On this sacred occasion of Kanya Pujan today, worshipping daughters filled my heart with profound emotion. Durga Ashtami teaches us that every daughter embodies the radiant form of the primordial divine energy. Their affection and honour infuse life with purity and auspiciousness."

She added, "This is my prayer to the Mother: May she continue to shower her grace upon all, may the light of happiness and prosperity spread in every home, and may the love of daughters forever illuminate our lives. Millions of salutations at the feet of the Mother."

Kanya Pujan is an important ritual performed during the Navratri festival, especially on the eighth (Ashtami) or ninth (Navami) day. It symbolises respect for feminine power (Shakti) and the belief that young girls embody the form of Goddess Durga.

Navratri, which means ‘nine nights' in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, collectively known as Navdurga.

(With ANI inputs)