Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 18: The beautifully decorated temples and shrines in J&K are all ready to bless the visiting devotees during the Chaitra Navratras starting from tomorrow.
While a large number of pilgrims are visiting the world famed revered cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji at Trikuta Hills in Katra to pay obeisance, rush at the temples in Jammu and adjoining places is also expected to break all the previous records this time.
Managements at the popular temples of the Goddess in Jammu informed that beautiful light work has been done at these places of worship while flowers brought from many States are being used to decorate the sanctum sanctorum.
“Flowers of many varieties have been brought from Kolkata to beautify the shrine and the idol of Goddess while beautiful clothes especially Chunris and other things are also there in place at the shrine for decorating the temple,” informed Mahant Bitta Ji at the fort shrine of Bawe Wali Mata, situated at a hill top on the bank of river Tawi in Jammu.
He also said that CCTV cameras have also installed at the premises of the temple to check any wrong element while special cameras to detect the criminals have also been installed this time by the temple authorities for further strengthening the security.
“Wheel Chairs, volunteers and other such facilities are also there in place to facilitate the visiting devotees,” the Mahant informed.
He said that the temple will remain open for devotees from 4 am to 1 pm and then from 2 pm to 9 pm while the shrine will remain closed from 1 pm to 2 pm for Bhog to the deity and for cleaning purpose.
Similarly, the Kol Kandoli temple in Nagrota, along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, is also ready for the auspicious Navratras.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Kol Kandoli temple forms the first Darshan to the pilgrimage of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
“From 4 am to 5.30 am there will be Arti of the Goddess which will be followed by Kanya Pujan after which Chandi Paath will start at the shrine from tomorrow for the world peace,” informed Pandit Jai Kumar Sharma of Kol Kandoli temple.
He also said that Satsang will continue till evening on all the Navratra days.
“The temple will remain open from 4 am in the morning till 11 pm in the evening and during the last four Navratras there will be a Durga Shapshati Hawan,” Sharma further said adding that artists and celebrities from different States visit the shrine throughout the year.
There are reports from the many more popular temples like Chichi Mata temple in Samba, Jasrota temple in near Kathua etc, regarding preparation for the Chaitra Navratras.
Organisers at all these shrines and temples have appealed to the devotees from different sections of the society to visit the shrines during these Navratras and get blessings of the Goddess.
Markets are also flooded with things like eatables etc used by the devotees during Navratras.
Sources informed that there will also be a tight security arrangement by Police and other security agencies on these days to thwart any untoward incident.
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