Katra (Jammu), September 23 (Vijay Kumar) – On the fourth day of Navratra Festival-2009, the artists of Song and Drama Division, organized a scintillating cultural programme on the topic dowry system, women empowerment and national integration.
Eighty artists from different parts of the country including West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir participated. Thousands of devotees witnessed the programme on the occasion.
Minister for Cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion.
Meanwhile as part of ongoing Navratra Festival-2009 being organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and J&K Tourism Department at Katra, an impressive cultural procession was taken out from the Asia Chowk which after passing through the main locations of the town finally culminated at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra.
The President, Municipal Committee, Katra, Ambresh Magotra, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi,and other senior officers of other departments, President Cultural Association Katra, Surinder Khajuria and members of Navratra Festival Committee were also present on the occasion.
The cultural procession was so tastefully designed and decorated which compelled the thousands of devotees standing on both the sides of the passage of the procession to give repeated applause. A number of jhankies which included that of Mata Vaishno Devi, General Zorabar Singh, Tadka Badh, Bholay Bhandari, Veer Abhimanue, Gaddi Parivaar, Jaddian and Palki got special appreciation from across the audience.
During the 4th day of All India Devotional Song Contest being jointly organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and J&K Tourism Department at Yog Ashram, Miss Sonali Dogra of Jammu, Anil Aftab of Jallander and Romana Chouhan of Jammu secured first, second and third positions respectively. Journalist, Harbans Nagokay, Professor Anupama Sharma, Retd. Assistant Director All India Radio, Pradhuman Singh and Ex- Principal Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Watchspati Sharma were the judges of the contest.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister appreciated Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Tourism Department for organizing such events which provide an opportunity to the budding singers to express their talent on a common platform. He hoped that the promising singers of All India Devotional Song contest would also excel at other platforms in the country.
Chairman of All India Devotional Song contest, Rakesh Wazir conducted the proceedings of the programme in a most professional manner.
A team of Songs and Drama Division comprising of 80 budding artists also presented scintillating cultural programme at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra for the entertainment of devotees and locals.
Bhagwat Katha in the premises of Ragunath temple and exhibition of departmental stalls at Higher Secondary School Katra also attracted large crowd during the ongoing Navratra Festival.