Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 5: Undeterred by recent Fidayeen attacks and terrorist threats to strike, an unabated rush was witnessed in the temples of Mata Durga across the Jammu region on the first day of Navratra from early in the morning which continued up to late in the night as thousands of devotees visited these temples to pay their obeisance to Godess and perform Pooja -archana.
According to reports over 10,000 devotees visited the holy temple of Bawe Wale Mata near, here during the first Navratra today. The rush started from early in the morning and it continued late upto night. The devotees were waiting in long queues for darshan.
The administration and Temple Management Committee had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine to pay their obeisance.
In view of militants threats elaborate security arrangements were made around the shrine.
Huge rush of devotees was also witnessed in other city temples of Mata Durga also.
Reports coming from Kathua and Samba district said that over 12,000 devotees visited various temples of Mata in the twin districts today to pay their obeisance and perform pooja on the auspicious occasion of first Navratra today.
Reports said that over 2,500 pilgrims visited Chechi Mata temple at Samba today and performed Pooja Archana there while over 10,000 pilgrims performed darhsan in the temples of Shetli Mata, Utteri Lagate, Bala Sundri, Nagri Parole, Kali Mata, Jarota Sunderi Kote Billawar, Sukhrala Mata, Billawar, Joda Wali Mata Bani and Mata Asha Puri, Kathua in the Kathua district today. The rush continued for the entire day in these temples.
Besides, security, the district administration had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims in these temples.
Meanwhile the historical Ramleela at Basholi, Billawar and Ramkote has started. SDPO Basholi Rafiq Manhas said that the Ramleela will be staged from 8 pm to 11 pm daily in these towns. He said that the administration has made elaborate security arrangements for Ramleela.
The nine- day long Navratra festival celebrations have also started at Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji Ashram Udaywala Bohri. The hawan started yesterday evening and daily religious activities will be held from 4-30am to 7-30 am. The nine day long spiritual activity will conclude on October 13.
The celebration have also started at Nagbal Anantnag in Kashmir Valley where a daily havan will be performed and the Puranahuti will be held on October 13.
The religious activity in the Nagbal shrine is being undertaken by the Prabandhak Committee led by M K Bambroo. The hawan is being solemnized under the supervision of M K Sharma.