Patna, Oct 22 - With the banks of the Ganga at this Bihar capital declared unsafe, the authorities are hurriedly digging over 60 ponds so that people can celebrate the big moment of the state's major Hindu festival Chhath this Saturday.

"Construction work is going on a war footing here to develop temporary ponds with barely two days left for Chhath," Patna Municipal Commissioner K Senthil Kumar said Wednesday.

Hundreds of workers overseen by officials are busy day and night to dig ponds in parks, other open places and near the banks of the river to facilitate people to celebrate Chhath, where a part of the ritual is to pray to the Sun God while being immersed neck-deep in water.

Traditionally, residents of Patna go to the Ganga or the Punpun river on the day. But early this week, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared the Ganga banks unsafe because the river was swollen by late rains, while the steps down the banks were mostly broken down as well. There are over 70 ghats (sets of steps on the riverbank) on the Ganga in Patna.

Patna district magistrate Jitendra Kumar Sinha said that the administration was also cleaning and renovating old ponds for Chhath. "A team of senior officials is monitoring the work," he said.

Sinha has urged the people to avoid going to the Ganga for Chhath. But, he added, "I have directed the irrigation department to barricade safe areas in the river where devotees may offer prayers."

The four-day Chhath festival began Thursday. (IANS)