Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 11: On the occasion of 7th Navratra, Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla, participated in a magnificent Shobha Yatra, taken out from Asia Crossing depicting rich cultural heritage of the State with culmination at Bus Stand Katra.
Katra town, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is witnessing huge rush of pilgrims from across the country and abroad during ongoing Navratra festivities.
Additional Chief Executive Officer SMVDSB, Mandeep K Bhandari, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director Tourism, Soujanya Sharma, Joint Director Tourism, Shiv Kumar Gupta, Project Officer, DRDA, Dr Jagdish Mehra, SP Katra besides thousands of pilgrims and locals took part in the Shoba Yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that such festivals symbolize unity in diversity besides highlighting composite culture of the state. These events also provide a common platform to the people irrespective of caste, colour and creed to interact with each other and share their culture and traditions which further help in strengthening bonds of brotherhood and communal harmony.
Extending greetings to the people in general and pilgrims in particular, Bhalla said that the festival provides an opportunity to the visiting yatris to have a glimpse of our rich cultural heritage and peaceful co-existence of people of different faiths.
The Minister said efforts are being made by the present coalition Government to create additional infrastructural facilities at the holy town Katra to meet the increasing rush of pilgrims effectively.
Lauding the role of various local associations connected with the Navratra Festival, Bhalla said that such a mega event could not be successful without the active participation of the locals.
Bhalla said that since inception of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Katra town, massive development has been witnessed from Katra town to Bhawan.
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