Shoba Yatra mesmerizes audience at Katra during
Navratra Festival-2009

Katra, September 27 - As part of ongoing Navratra Festival-2009 being organised jointly by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and J&K Tourism Department at Katra, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal flagged off the cultural procession with lighting of traditional lamp at Asia Crossing last evening.

The District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Pandurang Pole, Senior Superintendent of Police, Anand Jain, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Katra, Rashpaul Singh, Addl. S.P.Katra, Ashok Sharma, Deputy Director Tourism, President Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra Sham Lal Kesar, Gen. Secretary, Sewa Bharty Katra, R.S. Manhas, President, Cultural Association, Katra , Surinder Khajuria, President India Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma, President All India Devotional Song Competition, Rakesh Wazir, President, Bhagwat Katha Committee, Sardari Lal Dubey, members of the festival committee were prominent among those who were also present on the occasion.

Number of Jhankies mesmerise the audience during the cultural procession which after passing through the main locations of the town finally culminated at Government Higher Secondary, Katra.

The Divisional Commissioner after lighting the traditional Jyoti at Yog Ashram congratulated the Presidents and members of Navratra Festival Committee for this event and hoped that this would further strengthen our old traditions of communal harmony and mutual brotherhood among all sections of the society. He also praised the singers who are participating in this bhaint competition.

During Mega final of All India Devotional Song Competition, Vinod Kumar of Amritsar, Keerti Dubay of Bhopal and Shiva Sagar of Delhi were declared first, second and third respectively while as Kapil Thappa of Kathua, Anil Aftab of Jallander and Apurba Jamwal of Jammu were adjudged as 4th, 5th and 6th winners by a panel of judges. Madam Mumta Mehra and Rajan Gill both renewed singer participated in the programme as guest participants and mesmerised the audience and compelled them for repeated applause.

Half of the part of All India Devotional Song Competition which was delayed due to heavy rains at Katra on the occasion of 7th Navratra was also organised today in which Anmol Jaswal of Jammu was declared first by a panel of judges while the second prize was shared by Keerti Dubey of Bhopal & Kapil Thappa of Kathua. Similarly 3rd prize was also shared by Gursharan Koul and Julekha Farid of Bhaderwah.

President All India Devotional Song Competition, Katra Mr. Rakesh Wazir conducted the proceedings in a very excellent manner.

The final competition of All India Devotional Song Competition shall be held today evening in which number of budding singers from with in and various other states are likely to participate.

Cultural programmes by the artists of Songs and Drama Division from various states also concluded yesterday evening. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu was the chief guest on the occasion who distributed mementoes among the folk parties which include Malva Nati Mandal Mala Mach Ujan, Puruliya Chher Party West Bengal, Rumalo Ram & Pary Ramnagar, Vishwa Nath & Party of district Udhampur, Mr. Manoj Bansal, Assistant Director, Songs & Drama Division GOI.

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