The 9-day Navratra Festival-2008 took to a colorful start with the Advisor to Governor, Dr. S. S. Bloeria inaugurating the mega event at Katra, the base camp of the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, by lighting the traditional lamp at Asia Crossing on Tuesday.
The Navratra Festival, 13th in the series, is being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Tourism Department in collaboration with the local organizations.
As part of the inaugural ceremony, a magnificent Shobha Yatra, depicting the rich cultural heritage of the State amidst spiritual ambience, was taken out from the Asia Crossing which culminated at bus stand. The procession comprised a large number of pilgrims from across the country and abroad, school children, cultural troupes and tableau. The helicopters showered flower petals on the procession adding colour to the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bloeria prayed for peace, tranquility and prosperity in the state and the country. He said that Katra has its great importance not only as a base camp of the holy cave shrine but also one feels the spiritual bliss as soon as one reaches Katra. He said he had been paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine for the last over 50 years and has always felt so.
Lauding the people of Katra for their untiring efforts in creating facilities for the pilgrims, Dr. Bloeria said that the town has achieved manifold development over the years with the blessings of the Goddess. He said pilgrims are our honoured guests and we should do as much as we can for facilitating them. He exuded confidence that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the locals would put in their best efforts in taking all care of the pilgrims.
Complimenting the organizers of the Navratra Festival-2008, Dr Bloeria hoped that the event would be a memorable one.
The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, who is also the Chairman of the Navratra Festival Committee, hoped that the festival would help in attracting more and more pilgrims to the shrine and their number cross the last year’s record mark. The festival would also help in diverting a large number of pilgrims to other important pilgrim and tourist destinations in the area.
Pandey while appreciating one and all for their participation in the Shobha Yatra and other events associated with the festival, said that ethnic Food Festival is also being organized during the Navratras here, hoping that the pilgrims would get an opportunity to taste the local cuisines.
President, Municipal Committee, Katra, Mr. Mulkh Raj Purohit welcomed the participants to the inaugural function and urged for making the festival more vibrant in the years to come so that record number of pilgrims are attracted. He gave details of various measures taken for beautification of Katra town which include installing of street and mast lights, besides ensuring cleanliness.
Director Tourism, Jammu, Mrs. Sarita Chauhan presented vote of thanks.
Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Mr. B. B. Vyas, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Mr. M. K. Dwivedi, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Mr. Sanjeev Verma, Joint Director Information, Jammu, besides other Govt officials and members of the Festival Committee were prominent among those present on the occasion.
The artists of Song and Drama Division presented welcome song while Mr. Ghulam Mohammad and party presented bhaint of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
As part of the festival, cultural procession will be taken out from Asia Chowk at 7:00 PM , All India Devotional Song Competition will be held at Yog Ashram Ground at 8.30 p.m. and cultural programme will be arranged by the Song and Drama Division at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra at 8.30 p.m. daily. Similarly, religious discourses on Ramayan and Bhagwat Gita will be held at Raghunath Mandir from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and handicrafts and handloom exhibition at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m daily. Hassya Vayang Gosthi will be organised at Durga Bhawan from October 4 to October 7 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and wrestling competition will be held at Vivekanand Sports Stadium, Katra on 5th October from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Beijing Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling, Mr. Sushil Kumar would be honoured at the wrestling competition.