Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Mar 22: Amidst the Vedic hymns, religious chants and performance of other religious ceremonies, Shat Chandi Maha Yagya by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji started today on the auspicious occasion of beginning of Chaitra Navratras.
The nine-day long ‘Chaitra Navratra’, which is being performed at the holy cave shrine, will conclude with Purna Ahuti on Mahanavami.
Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; K K Sharma, Member, SMVDSB; Sudhir Bali, SDM Bhawan; other officers and staff of the Shrine Board, besides a large number of pilgrims were present on the occasion. The Yagya ceremony is being telecast live on MH1 Shradha from 11.30 AM to 12.30 PM daily during Navratras.
The Shrine Board has made grand decorations at Bhawan, Atka and the area surrounding it for the large number of pilgrims visiting during ongoing Navratras to pay obeisance at the shrine. The decorations are made with indigenous-foreign fruits and flowers, as well as huge reception doors and pandals have been installed in the Bhawan area.
Likewise, illumination of the Bhawan area with attractive and colourful lights has also been done. The breathtaking and festive decorations are a special visual delight for pilgrims who trek about 12 km from Katra to Bhawan.
The Shrine Board has also made elaborate arrangements for facilitating a large number of pilgrims who are expected to pay their obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum during Navratras. These arrangements include round the clock water and power supply all along the tracks leading to the Shrine, sanitation, medicare and availability of special “fast related” food at the Board’s Bhojanalayas. Besides, all the routes leading to the holy cave Shrine are fully maintained for smooth movement of pilgrims.
Before the commencement of Navratra, Chairman SMVDSB (Lt Governor JK-UT), had dedicated a five-storey Durga Bhawan on March 18 carrying multiple facilities for ease and comfort of the pilgrims.
To facilitate the smooth pilgrimage of Divyang pilgrims, the Shrine Board is also providing free pony and battery car service during Navratras.
CEO Shrine Board has been constantly reviewing and monitoring the regulation of Yatra along with other arrangements all along the track and in the Bhawan area and interacting with the pilgrims enquiring about the facilities made by the Shrine Board for their facilitation.
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