Katra /Jammu, October 08 (Scoop News) -The 9-day Navrata Festival-2010 took to a colorful start with Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand inaugurating the mega event at Katra , the base camp of the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji , by lighting the sacred Jyoti.
The Navratra festival, 15th in the series, is being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Tourism Department in collaboration with the District Administration, Reasi and local organizations. As a 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 colours to the occasion.
Extending greetings to the people in general and pilgrims in particular on holy Navratras, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Navratra festival provides an opportunity to the visiting yatris from various corners of the country and abroad to have a glimpse of our rich cultural heritage and peaceful co-existence of people of different faiths who live here like brothers. He said the Navratras have a special significance as the sacred Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji attracts a huge number of pilgrims from with-in and out side the country during these days.
Acclaiming the sincere efforts put in by the functionaries of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Katra under the able guidance of the Governor of the J&K state ( Chairman SMVDSB) for extending all facilities to the visiting pilgrims, Tara Chand said that the pilgrimage is gaining popularity by every passing day. He hoped that the number of devotees would cross the last year’s record mark and is expected to reach one crore this year, adding that so far 65 lacs pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine during the current calendar year. The festival would also help in diverting a large number of pilgrims to other important pilgrim and tourist destinations in the area, he said.
Responding to the developmental demands of the town put forth by the local MLA, the Dy. Chief Minister said that a comprehensive project to meet out the current drinking water requirement of Katra town has already been submitted to the Government of India for funding. He also issued instructions to the Deputy Commissioner Reasi regarding the preparation of detailed project report for the construction of a magnificent entry gate near
MLA Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma while speaking on the occasion assured all out help for smooth conduct the Navratra Festival Katra and also put forth developmental demands like augmentation of drinking water, uninterrupted power supply and proper disposal of garbage of Katra town.
As part of the festival, cultural procession will be taken out from Asia Chowk at 7 p.m., All India Devotional Song Competition will be held at Shri Yog Ashram Air Strip, Katra at 8 p.m. and cultural programme will be arranged by the Song and Drama Division at GHSS, Katra at 8 p.m. daily.
Similarly religious discourses on the Ramayana and Bhagwat Gita will be held at Raghunath Mandir from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Indo-Pak wrestling competition will be held at Vivekanand Sports Stadium, Katra on October 14 from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Exhibition of Departmental stalls would be held at GHSS, Katra from 2 p .m to 10 p.m during the Navratra Festival. Cultural programme and awareness rallies would also be taken out by the school childrens during the festival.
MLC, Abdul Gani Vakil, Vice Chairman, J & K Kissan Welfare Advisory Board, Rashpal Singh, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, DIG of Police Udhampur-Reasi Range, G. S. Slathia, Additional CEO, SMVDSB, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner , Reasi, P.K.Pole, Director Tourism, Jammu, R.K. Verma, Director, Local Bodies, Jammu, SSP Reasi, Deputy Director Information (PR) Jammu Suram Chand Sharma, Dy. CEO SMVDSB Katra, senior officers of district administration, President, All India Devotional Song Committee, Katra, Rakesh Wazir , President, J&K, Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma, President, Cultural Association, Katra, Surinder Khajuria, President Bhagwat Katha Committee, Sardari Lal Dubey and members of the festival committee were prominent among those present on the occasion.
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