Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 23: A scintillating cultural procession depicting rich cultural heritage of the region and different scenes of Ramayana and Mahabhrata was taken out on the last Navratra at holy town Katra, the base camp of Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine here on Tuesday.
The colourful procession was organised by Cultural Association, Katra as a part of Navratra Festival being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVD) and Department of Tourism in collaboration with local organizations at Katra.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, who was the chief guest on the occasion lit the sacred Jyoti at Asia Crossing Katra.
MLA, Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Dr. M.K. Bhandri, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, P K Pole, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Nirmal Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Raghubir Singh, Director Tourism, R.S. Mehta, Joint Director of Information, Soujanya Sharma, Additional SP Katra, Mohan Lal, noted personalities from Bollywood and members of Navratra Festival Committee were present on the occasion.
As a part of Navratra Festival, a weeklong Shrimad Bhagwat Katha concluded in the premises of Raghunath Temple in which large number of devotees participated. On the occasion, Chairman Bhagwat Katha, Sardari Lal Dubey, President Hotel and Restaurant, Sham Lal Kesar and members of Navratra Festival Committee were among the prominent.
The functionaries of Sewa Bharti, Katra were seen extending their services voluntarily at the free langar setup for the organizers and participants of Navratra Festival.