Heavy rush at Bahu Fort on Ist Navratra

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.

Pilgrimage up by 12 lakh Vaishno Devi shrine

Holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji is witnessing heavy rush of pilgrims during the Navratras. Total pilgrimage during first nine months of this year, which concluded today, have recorded an increase of nearly 12 lakh over the corresponding period last year indicating that yatra to the shrine was all set to touch or even surpass the figure of 1 crore for the first time.

Last year, 87.2 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi, located between Trikuta hills at a height of 5200 feet from the sea level. With 12 lakh increase during first three quarters, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) authorities were confident that the yatra would cross 10 million mark for the first time in the history.

Though the SMVDSB authorities were anticipating a substantive increase in the pilgrimage in last quarter of the yatra over the same period last year, the yatra would touch 1 crore even if it remained at par in last three months as it has already gone up by nearly 12 lakh.

SMVDSB Additional CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior that 77.75 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi during first nine months of 2011 as compared to 65.80 lakh yatra in the same period in 2010, recording an increase of 11.95 lakh.

During the month of September, 8.25 lakh yatris visited the holy cave shrine as compared to 6.20 lakh last year, an increase of 2.05 lakh.

During first Navratra, 45,000 devotees offered prayers to Goddess Vaishno Devi as compared to 36,900 last year. On second Navratra, number of the pilgrims stood at 40,047 as against 38,800 in 2010 while on third Navratra today, nearly 35,000 people left holy town of Katra, the base camp of the shrine, for Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The figure was 31,300 last year, Dr Bhandari said.

Authorities were expecting heavy rush to the cave shrine during remaining Navratras in view of ongoing Navratra festival during which many functions were being organized daily.

Last year, highest number of 87.2 lakh yatris had visited the cave shrine. With nearly 12 lakh increase in the pilgrimage till September this year, the authorities hoped that remaining three months of 2011 would also lead to a substantial increase in the yatra, taking pilgrimage well beyond the magic mark of 10 million for the first time.

During the current year, 4.21 lakh yatris visited holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi in January as compared to 3.99 lakh in the same month last year while the number came down to 3.69 lakh in February in response to 3.77 lakh in 2010. The pilgrimage jumped to 7.55 lakh in March up from 7.22 lakh last year.

In April, 9.77 lakh yatris paid obeisance to the Goddess while the number was 8.78 lakh last year while in May, 8.70 lakh people visited the shrine as compared to 9.14 lakh last year. The highest ever yatra in a month was recorded in June with 11.50 lakh yatris visiting the shrine as compared to 9.19 lakh last year. In July also, the pilgrimage crossed 11 lakh recording 11.27 lakh yatra while the number was 8.40 lakh last year. In August, 10.05 pilgrims visited the shrine as against 7.91 lakh last year.

Police parties led by SP Katra Mohan Lal and SDPO Katra P N Tickoo were supervising security arrangements for the pilgrims. Tight security arrangements have been made for the Navratras.

Gold Sukh opens showroom in Jammu

Gold Sukh Trade India Ltd opened its showroom today on the most auspicious day of first Navratra at 18/CC Auqaf Market Gandhi Nagar, with 24 carrat gold coins and 22 carrat Jewellery with all hall mark and BIS markings. It is the first show room of the company in the State.

Mahant Manjit Singh Ji of Dera Nangali Sahib inaugurated the showroom. A large number of people attended the function.

The Gold Sukh Trade India Ltd is a ` 500 crore company in bullion, media and hospitality industry spread over nine States with 29 branches and 7 mega showrooms.

Mohinder Singh Director of the Company, Deepak Sharma, Anurag Sharma and Rakesh Verma came from Jaipur to grace the occasion.

They were accompanied by Neeraj Kant Sharma, Gajjan Singh, Sudershan Singh Wazir and Maqsood from Jammu.

Mahant Manjit Singh inaugurating the showroom of Gold Sukh Trade India Ltd at Gandhi Nagar on Wednesday.

Navratra Festival at Katra 2011

Div Com inaugurates Navratra Festival at Katra

The 8-day Navrata Festival-2011 took to a colorful start with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal inaugurating the mega event at the base camp of the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, by lighting the sacred Jyoti.

The Navratra Festival, 16th in the series, is being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Tourism Department in collaboration with the District Administration, Reasi and local organizations.

As a part of the inaugural ceremony, a colourful Shobha Yatra depicting rich cultural heritage of the State was taken out from Asia Crossing to bus stand.

Extending greetings to the people in general and pilgrims in particular on holy Navratras, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, who is also the chairman of Navratra Festival Celebration Committee, said that the Navratra Festival Katra is gaining new heights with every passing year. The Festival provides an opportunity to the visiting yatris from various corners of the country and abroad to have a glimpse of our rich cultural heritage and peaceful co-existence of people of different faiths.

Dr Kotwal said the Navratras have a special significance as the sacred Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji attracts a huge number of pilgrims within and outside the country. With the increasing influx of yatris, efforts are being made to upgrade the basic facilities for visiting pilgrims and local populace of Katra, he said and added that recently sanctioned water supply scheme for the Katra town is a step forward in this direction.

Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Katra, Dr. M.K. Bhandari while speaking on the occasion hoped that the number of devotees would cross last year's record mark and expected to reach one crore this year, adding that the yatra has shown an increase of 11 lakh till date. He said that Navratra Festival would go a long way in attracting the pilgrims from different locations of the country and abroad to the holy cave shrine and further help in boosting pilgrim tourism in the State.

Deputy Commissioner Reasi, P.K. Pole also spoke on the occasion and complimented the people on the occasion of holy Navratras.

As part of the Festival, cultural procession will be taken out from Asia Chowk at 7 p.m., All India Devotional Song Competition will be held at Shri Yog Ashram Air Strip, Katra at 8 p.m. and cultural programme will be arranged by the Song and Drama Division at GHSS, Katra at 8.30 p.m. daily.

Similarly religious discourses on the Ramayana and Bhagwat Gita will be held at Raghunath Mandir from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and International wrestling competition will be held at Multipurpose Sports Stadium, Katra on October, 2 from 2 pm to 6 p.m.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Udhampur-Reasi Range, Jagjit Kumar, Director Tourism, Jammu, R.S. Mehta, SSP Reasi, K. R. Chourisa, Additional SP Katra, Mohan Lal, Joint Director Information, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma, Dy. CEO SMVDSB Katra, Rash Paul Singh, Deputy Director Tourism, Arvind Kotwal, senior officers of district administration, Ex- Minister, Jagjeevan Lal, members of Navratra Celebration Committee, Katra including Shyam Kesar, Rakesh Wazir Shiv Kumar Sharma, Surinder Khajuria, Sardari Lal Dubey, Ambrish Magotra, Verinder Kesar, R.S. Manhas, other members and prominent persons were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, a heritage walk was flagged off from Ambaran Monastery to Jeo Pota Ghat in which a large number of school children including NCC cadets took part.

The heritage walk jointly organized by the Department of Tourism and district administration Jammu was flagged off by Sub Divisional Magistrate Akhnoor Sushma Chauhan.

The school children drawn from Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Akhnoor, and Government Boys Higher Secondary School Akhnoor took part in the walk.

Navratra Festival from Sept 28

A high level meeting of officers was convened here today to discuss the arrangements for the ensuing Navratra Festival 2011 at the holy town of Katra.

The Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal who is also chairman of Navratra festival celebration Committee presided over the meeting.

The meeting was informed that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Tourism Department, members of the local committees of Katra town, Tourism Industry of Jammu Region, other Government Departments, Song & Drama Division (GoI) and NGOs would jointly work for making the Navratra Festival a successful event.

It was divulged that Navratra festival celebrations would commence in the morning at Katra on September 28.

The meeting discussed the events of Navratra festival which mainly included cultural procession (Shoba yatra).

All India Devotional Song Competition, International Wrestling Competition, Evening Cultural programme by Song and Drama Division, cultural programme by school children, religious discourse, exhibition of departmental stalls, hassya vayang and Kavi Samelan would be the main attractions.

Among others those present in the meeting included DIG Udhampur-Reasi Jagjit Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer SMVDSB Dr. M. K. Bandari, District Development Commissioner Reasi, P. K. Pole, Director Tourism Jammu Robin Singh Mehta, Director Health Services Jammu Dr. Madhu Khullar, SSP Reasi Keshav Chorsia, Joint Director Information Soujanya Sharma, Deputy Director Tourism Arvind Kotwal (Nodal officer), Dy CEO SMVDSB Rashpaul Singh, Senior officers from Traffic, PWD, PHE, PDD and other concerned departments, members of Navratra celebration Committee and President of different Associations Katra associated with Navratra Festival.