Navratra Festival-2010 Inauguration in Katra, Jammu
Jammu, October 08 - Nine day Navratra Festival-2010 being jointly organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Department of Tourism, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, District Administration Reasi and local people is being held form 8th October to 16th October, 2010 at Katra, Jammu.
Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Tara Chand is inaugurating the Navratra festival at Katra today at 11 a.m. The inaugural ceremony of the festival at Katra is taking place at Asia Chowk at 11 a.m. Shoba Yatra Cum Cultural Procession of troupes and tableaux exhibiting culture and traditions of Jammu is expected to commence from Asia Chowk at 7.30 p m during the Navratra days.
Navratra festival is being organized Shrine Board since last 15 years and over the years has attained national prominence. The festival also becomes a leading event for highlighting the tourism potential and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Jammu region. Katra which is the base camp for the pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, is being tastefully decorated during the nine days festivities. Leading corporate houses and devotees of the Mata are also sponsoring some activities of the festival.
All India Devotional Songs Competition will commence at 8.30 p.m. toady Yoga Ashram ground. This event will have contestants from different parts of the country who will go through different stages of the competition and grand finale will be held on the 16th October, 2010 at 8.30 p m. The winner will be awarded a prize of Rs. one lakh with gold coins of the Goddess which will be provided by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
The Song and Drama Division, Government of India will organize cultural items which will be performed by the artists of state and different parts of the country at the Government Higher Secondary School Katra from 9th October, 2010 onwards at 8.30 p.m. every day and magic shows have also been included in this year’s festival.
Sermons on the Ramayan and Bhagwat Gita will be delivered by the eminent religious scholars at Shree Raghunath Mandir daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Wrestling Competition will be organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Indian Style Wrestling Association in the Vivekananda Sports Stadium on 14th October, 2010 from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Various government departments will put up stalls exhibiting items produced by them for display and sale at the Government Higher Secondary School, daily from 8 a.m. to 12 noon (morning) and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The school children of Reasi and Katra will be presenting cultural programme. The education and the Forest Department will be organizing a rally of school children aimed at creating awareness about environment. Heritage walk of school children will be organized in Reasi.
Bhimgarh Fort, Reasi constructed in the 17th century will also be illuminated. Tourism department along with the district administration Jammu will be also organize some events at Jammu which include heritage walk by school children from Ambaran to the Jio-Potha Ghat, Akhnoor, Illumination of the Shrines, Fort and the Chenab River front, Akhnoor, Arti of River Chenab Akhnoor and Arti at Hari-ki-Paudi Jammu.
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