LUCKNOW, Nov. 14 -- Civic workers continued cleanliness and finishing work at several locations on Friday, the first day of the four-day festival, as devotees began arriving at ghats following the Nahay-Khay ritual. Thousands of devotees are expected to gather at riverbanks across Lucknow for Chhath Puja. The civic body has prioritised sanitation, safe access to riverbanks and basic facilities to ensure devotees can perform rituals without inconvenience. District magistrate Vishak G inspected the major ghats on Friday, including Lakshman Mela Ghat, Jhulelal Ghat and Kudiya Ghat, to review the arrangements. He also checked facilities such as changing rooms, bathrooms and drinking water arrangements. "The administration has ensured the availability of essential facilities for devotees. The irrigation department, LMC and other departments are working round the clock to improve arrangements and ensure that nobody faces any inconvenience during the worship," the DM said. The LMC has cleared debris, moss, water hyacinth and other waste from near the riverbanks and surrounding areas. It has also installed high-mast lights, barricades, public address systems and warning signs at locations with deeper water to prevent accidents. The civic body has also organised access routes keeping women, elderly devotees and persons with disabilities in mind. Traffic restrictions will be enforced around several riverfront and ghat areas during Chhath Puja on November 15 and 16, with diversions affecting general traffic and roadways buses, the Lucknow traffic police said in a press release on Friday. The restrictions will begin at noon on November 15 and continue until the evening programme concludes. On November 16, they will start at 3am and remain in force until the morning programme ends. The main observances are the sunset arghya and Kosi bharna on November 15, followed by the sunrise arghya on November 16....