Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 14: Navratra Festival 2021 concluded today amid a series of religious and cultural events at Katra Township-the base camp of holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
The nine day Festival concluded with Kanjak Poojan and grand Shobha Yatra, which started from Hotel Surya and concluded at Fountain Chowk, Bus Stand.
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Charandeep Singh -the chief guest accompanied the Shobha Yatra after Kanjak Poojan.
Earlier, Mata ki Kahani theatre show was presented at Spiritual Growth centre Katra.
Later, mementoes were presented to the organisers, Associations and Departments associated with the Festival. Other officers present on the occasion were Amit Bhasin ASP Katra; Natasha Kalsotra Joint Director Tourism Jammu, CEO Municipal Committee Katra, and Assistant Director Tourism and other officers of the Department.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandits performed Ramnavmi Puja at Durga Nath temple in Sonwar area of Srinagar.
The Manager of the temple, Makhan Lal Koul said that due to the untoward situation in the city for the past two weeks the administration didn’t allow the puja earlier.
“The Puja was supposed to be conducted on October 12 as per the calendar but due to the circumstances, the administration didn’t allow it earlier,” Koul said. He said that though the puja took place today, presence of devotees are less as compared to the previous year.
The devotees said that they felt very safe in the Valley but were disheartened to see the little gathering of pandits who did not come for the festival like previous year.
A devotee who had come from Habba Kadal Srinagar said that he performs puja every year in Handwara and there was no fear at all like the previous year’s nor there were any security-related concerns. “We performed puja happily,” he said.
Meanwhile, to inculcate the moral and spiritual values among the masses, Bhagawaan Gopinathji Trust organised a eight -day long spiritual activity during auspicious days of Navratra which commenced from October 7 and culminated on October 14 at Bhagawaan Gopinathji Ashram, Udaiwala , Bohri Jammu. Hundreds of devotees thronged the Ashram daily to participate in spiritual activities and invoking blessings of Mother Goddess.
The Hawan started on the evening of October 6 at 8 pm and Puranhauti was offered on October 14.
On the occasion of Mahanavmi, the Mahayagya of Ist Devi Bharg Shikha was performed in the premises of Martand Surya Bhawan Palour here under the chairmanship of Avtar Krishan Mussa. Another Mahayagya was performed at Martand Shrine Kashmir under the presidenthsip of A K Sidha and general secretary, T K Tickoo. After Puranahuti Naveed was served to devotees at both the places.
Annual Hawan on Mahanavmi was performed by Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan Trust Wadipora Handwara, Kashmir sub office Thalhal Phalay Mandal near here, today. A large number of devotes attended the function . Religious hymns bhajans were sung in praise of Mata by the devotees and they prayed for welfare of universe.
The nine -day long Durga Pooja culminated at Sharika Peeth Sanstha Subash Nagar , here with regular Samohiok Pooja and Pushp Archana under the chairmanship of Sanstha president, M K Jalali. Special prayers were held for peace and well being of mankind.
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