9-day long Navratra festival culminates
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 23: Thousands of devotees thronged various temples of Goddess including Mata Durga, Mata Shakti, Mahakali and Mata Chandi on the occasion of Maha Navmi today culminating the nine -day long Navratra festival. The Sakh sown on the first day of Navratra by the Hindu devotees in their houses and worshiped during nine days of festival was also immersed in various rivers and canals in different parts of Jammu region on the auspicious occasion of Maha Navmi.
As per reports 1.50lakh pilgrims alone paid obeisance at Bawe Wali Mata temple at Bahu Fort during last nine days of Navratra festival. The highest number of 31,000 pilgrims visited the holy temple on the occasion of Durga Ashtami yesterday while over 15,000 pilgrims visited today.
A total number of 65,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Chechi Mata temple Samba during the festival. Among them highest number of over 21,000 devotees visited the temple today while 20,000 visited yesterday. During the rest days of festival the number of visiting pilgrims was normal.
Reports said that 1.10 lakh pilgrims visited various shrines including Jodawali Mata and Dhollawalli Mata in Bani bordering Himachal Pradesh, Sukhrala Mata and Sundrikot in Billawar, Kali Mata in Jasrota Kathua, Jandi Fort and Sundribala in Nagri Parole Kathua during last nine days of Navratra.
There was huge rush of devotees on the bank of river Tawi, Ghats of Ranbir canal and other canals besides the river Chanderbagha (Chinab) at Akhnoor and other places where large number of devotees thronged from early this morning to immerse the Sakh in a traditional way.
Meanwhile, Maha Navmi was celebrated in various temples by the respective management committees today. A grand function was held by Management Committee of Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir Management Trust, Gandhi Nagar in connection with celebration of Maha Navmi today. On the occasion a hawan under the guidance of learned Pandits was performed in Mandir complex.
Yesterday on the occasion of Durga Ashtami prizes were given to winners who participated in various events from First Navratra to Durga Ashtami by chairman of the Trust, Gulchain Singh Charak in presence of general secretary, S C Rekhi, Deepak Gupta, treasurer, Prithvi Raj Vaid, Harish Malhotra and others.
The nine -day long spiritual activity also culminated at Bhagaawan Gopinath Ashram Udaywala Bohri which was organised by Bhagawaan Gopinath Ji Trust.
A Trust handout said that hundreds of devotees thronged the Ashram daily to participate in religious function and hawan during Navratra days to invoke blessings of Mother Goddess. The hawan started on October 15 at 5 am and Puranahuti was performed this afternoon. A large number of devotees paid obeisance to Bhagawaan Ji and prayed for peace and universal wellbeing.
The Hawan was also performed at Srinagar, Delhi Ashrams as well as other Ashrams in India and Satsangh Mandlis abroad.
On the occasion of Maha Navmi a grand religious get together was held at Durga Nag community hall Barnai. The function was organised by Durga Nag Trust. Ashu Sharma along with her team recited bhajans in praise of Mata Shakti. The devotees were served Prashad after culmination of function which was among others attended by Trust president, Vijay Bakaya, senior trustees Prof B L Koul, Kuldeep Raina, Avtar Krishan Bhat and chief advisor, M K Gulabi.
On the occasion of Maha Navmi annual Hawan of Bhargshikha Bhagwati was organised at Martand Surya Bhawan, Paloura, here by Martand Tirath Trust. The Mahayagya started yesterday and culminated with Puranahuti this afternoon. This was followed by serving of Prashad to devotees.
Various religious programmes were performed under the chairmanship of vice president of Trust, B B Sadhu. Shanti Lal Sidh , Ravinder Kitchloo and Bharti Harish recited Bhajans in praise of Goddess. The welcome address was made by B L Mukhi vice president of the Trust. Another Mahayagya was performed at Martand Tirath Raj, Kashmir the birth place of Lord Martand under the chairmanship of Trust president, A K Sidha.
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