STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Nestled atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is all decked up to welcome pilgrims arriving for the nine-day Navratras festival commencing from Monday, officials said.
Lt Governor extends Navratri greetings
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has extended his warm greetings on the eve of Navratri.
In a message, the Lt Governor said the nine-day festivities remind us of the eternal message of victory of good over evil and mark the hope of a bright future.
May Navratri bring peace, happiness and prosperity for all, and Maa Durga bless us with strength, courage and determination, prayed the Lt Governor.
Over three lakh pilgrims from across the country and abroad are expected to visit the shrine during the festival with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) putting in place all necessary arrangements including security to meet the heavy rush, the officials said.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the shrine board, on August 31 rolled out a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for the pilgrims.
The RFID system is part of various new projects sanctioned for the convenience of the pilgrims in the aftermath of a stampede at the shrine on New Year’s Day in which 12 people lost their lives and 16 others were injured. We have set up two control rooms and installed 120 CCTV cameras along the track and the Bhawan (sanctum sanctorum) to ensure the Yatra is regulated in a better way…The RFID card system, which is mandatory for all pilgrims, will help in better crowd management and real time tracking of pilgrims, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Anshul Garg said.
He said the shrine and adjoining areas have been decorated with flowers and lights for the festival.
Welcome gates have also been installed and this time the shrine board is introducing selfie points enroute the cave shrine for the pilgrims, he said.
Garg said physically challenged devotees will be provided horses and battery car service free of cost to make it easy for them to offer prayers at the shrine.
This is another new initiative of the shrine board and we have set up help desks for the convenience of persons with special needs. They will also be given priority for darshan’ at the Bhawan, he said.
Katra, 42 km from winter capital Jammu, which serves as the base camp for the shrine, will witness a series of religious, cultural, sports and folk events till the culmination of the festival on October 4.
A total of 14 different activities will be organized in Katra from September 26 to October 4, Garg added.
All arrangements in place: Div Com
JAMMU: Tourism Department Jammu, in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Divisional Administration Jammu and District administration Reasi have fully geared up to organise annual Navratra Festival 2022 at Katra from September 26 to October 4, 2022.
Addressing the media persons here on Sunday, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar said that all arrangements are in place to celebrate Navratra festival 2022 at the Holy Katra town and other parts of the division.
He said that in the last two years the festival was celebrated with limited events on a small scale due to the Covid pandemic. He said that this year the Navrata festival will be celebrated with more enthusiasm and religious gaiety as many new activities have been included in the nine day long Navratra festival.
This year the Navratra festival Committee 2022 has decided to celebrate the mega event both at Katra and Jammu from 26th September to 04th October, 2022. The mega event is being organized by Department of Tourism, J&K in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Divisional Administration, Jammu, Central Bureau of communication, UT of J&K and Ladakh and Active participation of local tourism trade industry, NGO’s and stakeholders of Katra and Jammu etc under the overall supervision and guidance of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu (Chairman Navratra Festival Organizing Committee).
It is pertinent to mention that in the year 2021, 199550 pilgrims paid their obeisance to the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji during the auspicious 09 days of festivity and this year also a huge rush of pilgrims is expected during the holy Sharad Navratra 2022.
While giving details of the events to be organized during holy Navratra days, the Div Com informed that the inaugural function will be held at Yog Ashram Ground Katra on September 26 followed by a series of events including the laser show on Mata Ki Kahani.
“All India devotional song competition for budding singers from all over India shall start daily at 9 PM at Yog Ashram Katra, while play ‘Mata ki Kahani’ will be performed daily at Kailash Parking, Railway Road Katra at 7 PM” the Div Com informed. He further said that the main attraction of this year is the laser show on the Mata Ki Kahani and the same will be held daily. “On the inaugural day, it shall be showcased at Yog Ashram Ground Katra. From the second Navratra onwards, the Laser Show shall be held at Kailash Parking, Pujari Chowk, Railway Road Katra at 8:00 pm onwards, ” he added.
Similarly, Morning prabhat pheri processions amid singing of bhajans of Maa Vaishno would be held at Katra from 27th September 2022. Artists from different states of India shall participate in the devotional processions which would start at 5:30 am from Fountain Chowk Katra towards the main Bazaar Katra.
Katra town would be decked up with beautiful lights and the grandeur of decorated tableaux with the devotional theme of ‘Shiv-Parvati’, ‘MaaVaishno.’
The folk dances of different states of India and depicting the cultural diversity of J&K will form another attraction of the festival. Artists from across the UT and different parts of India are going to take part in the daily cultural processions which would start from Asia Chowk Katra and move towards the main Bazaar culminating at the Yog Ashram Katra. Shobha Yatra shall start from 27th September and continue till 4th October.
Garba and Dandiya Night shall be held on 2nd October at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Govt PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, while Mata Ki Bhaint will be performed at Ashtdashbhuja Mata Mandir Sarthal Kishtwar on September 27, 2022, at Raghunath Bazaar , Jammu on September 28 and at Jagti Jammu on October 1, 2022.
Ek Shaam Maiya Ji K Naam’ shall be held at Jasmergarh Fort on 29.09.2022, Hiranagar Kathua. The temple premises shall be decorated for the said events.
Daily Ramleela shall be held at Higher Secondary School Katra from 6 pm to 8 pm from 27th September 2022 till 4th October 2022.
Cultural programmes shall be held daily at Higher Secondary School Katra from 8:30 pm onwards where the cultural diversity of different regions of India shall be displayed by the distinguished performers from all over India. Special emphasis shall be laid on Dogra culture. Multimedia Exhibition shall also be installed and put on display for the visiting tourists from 27th September at the same venue.
Bhagwat Katha recital shall be held at Raghunath Temple Katra premises from 28th September 2022.
A special programme by the specially abled children from across India would be held at the Auditorium of Spiritual Growth Centre, SMVDSB Katra on 1st October, 2022. Indian style wrestling competition (male and female wrestling competition) shall be held at SMVDSB Stadium Katra on 2nd October 2022.
Hasya Vyang and Kavi Sammelan shall be held at Higher Secondary School Katra on 5th October 2022.
It was further informed that the District Administration, Reasi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board have made elaborate arrangements for Navratra festival in Katra and all along the holy track for the comfortable and memorable experience of devotees. A massive publicity campaign has been launched through print and electronic media by the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu so as to invite the devotees for this festival and convey the message of peace in the UT.
The hotel and restaurant Association of Katra has offered a 30% discount to tourists on Hotel Tariffs during the festival period, while JKTDC has announced a discount of 50% on its room tariff at Katra. In addition to the above, Five events are being organized in Jammu Division also for the tourists and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to create an atmosphere of festivity.
Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai; Joint Director, Central Bureau of Communication, Gulam Abbas, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Babila Rakwal; Joint Director Tourism, Sunaina Sharma were also present during the press conference.