In its continuing efforts to appease North Indians in the city, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now wants the Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue guidelines for the upcoming Chhath puja festival. The state government and the civic body have been giving guidelines and instructions before festivities, but BJP leaders said that there has been no word over Chhath puja. In a letter written to Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani, BJP leaders have requested that artificial ponds be created for the festival.

Bihar and Jharkhand are where the festival is mainly celebrated, besides the eastern states of the country. However, restrictions have been imposed over the festival in Delhi and Kolkata by their governments. The festival where women fast and congregate near water bodies to offer prayers to the Sun God, is also celebrated in the city, owing to a large population of north Indians residing here.