Excelsior Correspondent
![Participants alongwith Director Tourism posing for a photograph at Katra on Friday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Page12-150x150.jpg)
KATRA, Oct 19 : As a part of on-going Navratra Festival being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Department of Tourism in collaboration with District Administration and local organizations at Katra, a scintillating cultural procession depicting rich culture of the State and other parts of the country was taken out from Asia Crossing, where the Director Tourism, Jammu, S. Robin Singh Mehta lit the sacred Joyti before the start of impressive procession.
The impressive Shoba Yatra- cum- cultural procession was taken out from the Asia Crossing which after passing through the main bazaars and other locations of the Katra town culminated at GHSS, Katra. Various Jhankies like traditional Kud Itarsi Band, Bal Devta’s roop, Gaddi, Ravna, Sagar Mathan, Akbra offering prayer, and various scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata mesmerized the large number of devotees and huge crowd present on the occasion.
Among others Additional SP Reasi, Mohan Lal, Assistant Tourism, Meenakshi Koul, Tehsildar, Reasi, Gopal, officers of different departments, Members of the festival committee, large number of yatris and local people were present on the occasion.
Cultural programmes by the Songs & Drama Division at Government Higher Secondary School, Religious discourses at Raghunath Mandir, Cultural programmes by the students and Exhibition stalls by various departments were other main highlights of the Navratra Festival which attracted thousands of devotees and locals during the 4th Navratra.