Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 16: The eight day Navratra festival witnessed a colourful start with Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand inaugurating the mega event at Katra, the base camp of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi by lighting the sacred `Jyoti’ while all the shrines of the `Goddess’ at Bahu Fort, Chichi Mata, Sukrala and other places in the region saw heavy rush on fist day of Navratras today.
Navratra Festival, 17th in the series is being organized at Katra by Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board and Tourism Department in collaboration with the District administration. An impressive Shoba Yatra, depicting rich cultural heritage was also taken out at Katra town in connection with the celebrations. A large number of locals and senior officials from Board and other agencies participated in the event. The DyCM extended greetings to the people on this occasion.
MLA Reasi, Baldev Sharma, Addl Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB Dr M K Bhandari, Director Tourism R S Mehta, DIG Jagjit Kumar, SSP Reasi Raghubir Singh and former president MC Katra Ambrish Mangotra were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, thousands of `Shiv Sainiks’ from the State and outside took out a big rally in the winter capital city here before leaving for Katra Mata Vaishnodevi while all the shrines of the `Goddess’ at Bahu Fort, Sukrala, Chichi Mata etc witnessed huge rush of devotees on first Navartra today.
A large number of `Shiv Sainiks’, attired in traditional Dogri dress including turbans, assembled at Maulana Azad Stadium. Then led by the Sena leader from the State, Ashok Gupta, they took out a religious procession towards city. Over six thousand `Shiv Sainiks’ from the State and outside took part in the procession passing. They were carrying `Trishuls’. A team of Brass band and drum-beaters was leading the large procession. `Shiv Sainiks’ were raising religious slogans.
The district administration diverted the traffic to different routes but traffic jams were witnessed at many city bottle-necks during the procession this afternoon.
In Samba town also large procession was taken out by the Shiv Sainiks. Nearly 400 Sainiks started their procession from Chohata and then moved towards Main Bazar and Bus Stand. Local Sena leader Romesh Gupta was leading. Then they moved towards Jammu in buses fitted with Sena flags different vehicles. Similar, processions were taken out in Kathua and other towns of the region by Shiva Sainiks before leaving for Jammu.
A senior police official said that nearly 5500 Shiv Sainiks assembled at MA stadium and then took out procession in the city here. He claimed that over 3200 `Shiv Sainiks’ in nearly 70 buses and minibuses besides other vehicles left for Katra Mata Vaishnodevi at around 4.15 pm from here today.
Meanwhile, heavy rush of pilgrims was witnessed a Mata Vaishnodevi Darbar, Bahu Fort, Chichi Mata Samba, Sukrala Mata, Bala Sundri Mata shrines Billawar & Nagri, Mata Pingla Ramnagar, Jorha Wali Mata at Bani and Jasrota Fort temple in Kathua. The additional deployment of police force has been made and necessary arrangements put in place for the devotees by the respective district administrations at these shrines. They were highly decorated by the management committees on Navratra festival.
Minister of State for Cooperatives, Finance and Planning Dr Manohar Lal Sharma inaugurated Navratra festival at Sukrala Mata shrine and paid obeisance at the holy shrine. He prayed for peace , progress and prosperity of the state. He greeted people on this occasion. A large number of devotees thronged the shrine on first day of Navratras. The minister also inaugurated an ATM counter of J&B Bank at Sukrala.
At Ramnagar, an impressive function was organized in connection with Navrta festival. MP Lal Singh in presence of DC Udhampur P K Pole, SDM Basantgarh Krishan Lal, SDPO and Tehsildar Ramnagar inaugurated festival by lighting 26th Akhand Jyoti of Mata Pingla, at Chabutra Ramnagar. A large number of people were present besides members of the Akhad Jyoti Committee. It was disclosed that grand Shoba Yatra will be taken out on 4th day of Navratra from Pingla Devi Chabutra at Ramnagar.
Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner Pardeep Gupta today inaugurated Navratra festival at Raghunath Mandir Chowk here today. The function in this connection was organized by Raghunath Bazar Businessmen Association led by Baldev Khullar. Commissioner JMC K L Khajuria, ADC rehana Batul were also present. They greeted people on this occasion. Entire market has been decorated by the association members.