87,000 visit Vaishno Devi, 78,000 Bawe temple
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: The nine -day long celebration of Navratra festival concluded with Durga Pooja and immersion of Saakh in different rivers and canals across the Jammu region and solemnization of hawans in different temples on the occasion of Durga Ashtami.
Moreover, thousands of devotees paid obeisance in different temples of Mata Durga during the last nine days of festival. In holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Katra 87,780 devotees paid obeisance during the last nine days of festival while 1800 pilgrims had performed darshan in the holy shrine by 9pm today.
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The rush which had picked up slowly during last month has however declined due to spread of second wave of dreaded COVID all over the country. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had made impressive and elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims and no untoward incident took place during the festival and pilgrimage passed smoothly.
In Bawe Wali Mata temple at Bahu Fort, here 78,635 devotees paid obeisance during last nine days of the festival.
According to reports 7`1,425 pilgrims had performed darshan at holy temple till yesterday while 7,210 pilgrims paid obeisance in the temple on the occasion of Ramnavmi today. However, the devotees were given instructions by the officials and police on duty to maintain the social distancing and COVID guidelines.
As per reports, 2000 devotees performed darshan at Chechi Mata temple in Samba today while 20,000 pilgrims paid obeisance during last nine days in the temple. In various temples of Kathua district about 60,000 pilgrims paid their obeisance during the Navratra festival.
Reports said 10,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Sukhrala Mata temple in Billawar , 15,000 in Jasrota Fort Kathua, 6000 in Bala Sundrikot in Billawar, 7000 performed darshan in Mata Bala Sundri temple, Nagri Parole Kathua and 10,000 pilgrims performed darshan at Kali Mata Jandi Fort Kathua.
Besides, the devotees immersed Saakh after performing Pooja -Archana in their houses in the morning today in river Tawi, Ranbir canal and river Chenab in Jammu while in Kathua the Saakh was immersed by the devotees in main canal Kathua and Ravi river.
Meanwhile, hawans were performed by various temple committees on the occasion of Durga Ashtami at different places in the UT. A Maha Yagya was solemnized by the Durga Nag Trust at holy Shrine of Durga Nag in Srinagar on the occasion of Durga Ashtami.
The Hawan was solemnized under the supervision of Trust general secretary, R L Dhar by Jyothsi Avtar Krishan Shastri in which Prof BL Zutshi, Kuldeep Raina, Mr Razdan and other trustees participated.
The devotees took prashad after Puranahti and prayed to Goddess to bailout the entire mankind of the dreaded Pandemic. COVID restrictions and guidelines were also observed by the devotees.
Speaking on the occasion R L Dhar and Prof Zuthsi said that the hawan is performed every year in the shrine on Navratras and this year special prayers were held for peace and prosperity of the people of the country and bailing out the mankind of the dreaded Pandemic.
Avtar Jyotshi in his religious discourses threw light on the religious significance of nine days of Navratra with special reference to Durga Ashtami and Durga Nag shrine.
Mata Bhadarkali Asthapan Trust, Wadipora Handwara Kashmir camp Jammu organised annual Bhandara at both the Devasthals of Wadipora , Handwara in Kashmir and Thalwal Jammu under the proper protocol issued by Government for prevention of COVID -19. The functions were held in a simplified way. The Bhandara was organised at both the Devasathals but the number of devotees was thin. However there was a great enthusiasm among devotees. The Trust complimented the administration of Kupwara district for facilitating the yatra in smooth way.
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