Katra/Jammu, October 6 (Scoop News) –   The 8-day long Navrata Festival in the holy town of Katra came to a musical end last evening with Ms Manjusha of Reasi district bagging the prestigious first prize in the mega final event of All India Devotional Song Competition.

 The mega musical contest   was organized by the Department of Tourism, J&K Government, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Katra, District Administration, Reasi with collaboration of various local associations of  Katra. 

Ms Lata of Jallander and  Suresh Kumar of Jib Udhampur clinched second and third prizes respectively. 

 Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, was the chief guest on the occasion.

 Additional Chief Executive Officer Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur- Reasi range,  Jagjit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi,  P.K. Pole, Director Tourism  R.S. Mehta, Joint Director Information, Jammu,  Soujanya Sharma,, Additional S P, Katra,  Mohan Lal, Members of Navratra Festival Celebration Committee, including  Shiv Kumar Sharma,  Sham Kesar,  Surinder Khajuria,  Sardari Lal Dubey,  Gopal Padha,  R.S. Manhas,  prominent citizens, a large number of local people and pilgrims were   present on the occasion.

Noted Bollywood personalities including Producer Director,  Mukesh Bhatt, Managing Director of Venus Tapes and Records,  Ganesh Jain,  Owner, Trade Analyst and Producer,  Vikas Mohan, Music Director,  Pritam, leading Producer Director,  Madhur Bhandarkar, Chief Executive Officer, Zee Jagran s. Barkha Arora, were the judges of the mega final.

Rakesh Wazir conducted the proceeding of the programme.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Kotwal complemented the Managing Committee of Navratra Festival and other organizations for extending their cooperation in making the event a grand success.  He said that the annual festival is gaining prominence at national and even   international level besides providing a platform to the budding artists to show their talent. As a result, many artists especially the winners of previous All India Devotional Song contest   are proving their worth in the film industry also, he said.

He also appreciated the noted Bollywood personalities for making it a point to ensure their presence in the mega competition saying that this would help the budding talent to get inspiration and excel in the field of music.

Addl. CEO, SMVDSB, Katra, while speaking on the occasion lauded the sincere efforts of all organizations associated with the Navratra festival for its successful culmination. He said it was the result of coordinated and sincere efforts put in by the different agencies especially the people of Katra that the festival have achieved excellence in every field and was recognized as festival of culture, traditions, talent and harmony.

Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner accompanied by the renowned personalities of Bollywood, lit the sacred Jyoti near Asia chowk,  Katra which was taken out in the form of a colourful procession with jhankies depicting the rich culture heritage of the state. The procession after passing through the bazaars of the holy Katra town finally reached the venue of Devotional Song Competition.

  The chief guest also gave away prizes worth Rs. one lakh in shape of gold to the first winner, Cheques amounting to Rs. 25,000/- and Rs. 15,000/- were given to second and third winners of the mega final  bhaint competition on the occasion.