Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 8: During the ongoing nine day long Navratra festival, a colourful and impressive “Shoba Yatra” was taken out on the third day today.
On the occasion, DDC Reasi Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary was the chief guest, who lit scared ‘Jyoti’ near Asia crossing in presence of ADC Reasi RS Tara, ASP Katra Pawan Parihar, SDPO Rajinder Katoch, President Shoba Yatra Surinder Magotra, Advocate Surinder Sharma, Avtar Krishan Sharma, Ravi Nag, Virender Kesar and Raja Bharti.
While speaking, DDC appreciated the efforts of concerned departments, members of Shoba Yatra and locals for their cooperation in making Navratras festival a successful event.
The Shobha Yatra started from Asia Chowk and after passing through Bus Stand and main bazaar culminated at Yog Ashram.
During the Yatra, various tableaux including holy palanquin of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Jhankis depicting various shades of historical, religious and cultural tradition of State and Dogra heritage were organised.
During the ongoing Navratra festival, various events are going on at various locations including recitation of Bhagwat Katha at Raghunath Temple complex by Shri Sumanth Krishan Shastri (Vrindavan wale), folk dances and songs of Indian States by artists of Song and Drama Division, Government of India at Government Higher Secondary School Katra.
The members of Sewa Bharti including RS Manhas, Sham Lal, Vimal Sharma, Ajay Verma and Koushal Sharma are extending their full services voluntarily at the free langer spot thereby supervising and inspecting food to be prepared in most hygiene and satisfactory way for the organisers and participants of Navratra festival.
Convener Sardari Lal Dubey urged all the people to participate in all the religious programmes organized during the Navratra festival at Katra.
Meanwhile, an awareness rally was also organized today here to educate the masses about the importance of environmental preservation.
800 students including girls and boys drawn from 24 schools of Reasi district participated in the rally.
District Industry Manager, Krishan Lal and Zonal Education Officer, Pouni, Harish Dubey jointly flagged off the rally from Government Higher Secondary School, Katra.
The students carrying placards on environmental protection after passing through various locations of Katra town like Bus Stand, main bazaar, Chintamani Mandir finally culminated at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra.
Earlier, Fancy Dress Competition was organized in the premises of the school in which students of different educational institutions were as attired as Goddess Durga.
Later, a painting competition on the topic environmental protection was also organized in Government Higher Secondary School, Katra.
Assistant Director Tourism Veenakshi Kaul, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Katra, members of the festival committee, teachers and large number of students were present on the occasion.
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