November 19, when India play Australia in World Cup final, declared dry day in Delhi. Here is why

The Delhi government has declared Chhath Puja on Sunday (November 19) as 'dry day,' ordering liquor shops in the city to remain shut. Coincidentally, India takes on Australia on Sunday in Ahmedabad in the finals of the 2023 World Cup. An order issued by Excise department said all liquor vends will stay closed as Surya Shashti (Chhath Puja) on Sunday, which has been declared a dry day.

The four-day Chhath Puja is celebrated six days after Diwali. It is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and by the natives of these states settled in other parts of the country and the world. It will be observed November 17 to November 20.

"In pursuance of the provisions of Rule 52 of Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, it is hereby ordered that November 19 shall be observed as "Dry Day" in the National Capital Territory of Delhi by all L-1, L1F, L-2, L-3, L-4, L-5, L-6, L-6FG, L-6FE, L-8, L-9, L-10, L-11, L-14, L-18, L-23, L-23F, L-25, L-26, L-31, L-32, L-33, L-34 and L-35 licensees of the Excise department and opium vends located in Delhi," a Delhi government order said.


"All the licensees shall exhibit this order at some conspicuous place of their licensed premises. The business premises of a licensee shall be kept closed on dry day," it added.

As a large number of people celebrating Chhath Puja gather at the banks of the Yamuna River, the Delhi Police deployed additional forces while special ghats have been set up at several places to facilitate the puja.

A Delhi government minister said that more than 900 ghats have been prepared for the Chhath festival. The Railways has also increased the number of trains for Chhath Puja to clear the rush of passengers.

For crowd control measures at Railway stations, a control room has been set up at Anand Vihar and New Delhi railway stations, besides deployment of more Railway Protection Force personnel to manage crowds.