Navratra Festival at Katra, Jammu from 8th October '2010
Katra (Jammu), September-14 - To discuss the arrangements pertaining to ensuing Navratra Festival at Katra, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal who is also the Chairman of Navratra Festival organizing Committee convened a meeting of senior officers and Members of Navrata Festival Celebration Committee at Central Office of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Mr. P. K Pole, DIG, Reasi-Udhampur range, Mr. G S Slathia, Director Tourism, Jammu, Mr. R. K. Verma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Anand Jain, Chief Engineer, Mr. Dalip Bakshi, Joint Director of Information, Mr. Soujanya Sharma, Deputy CEO, SMVDSB, Assistant Director, Song & Drama Division (GOI), Senior officers of different departments, Members of Navrata Festival Celebration Committee were present in the meeting.
Discussing the arrangements to be made by Tourism Department and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the coming sacred occasion, the Divisional Commissioner was apprised about the activities to be performed during the festival, besides other preparations made for the smooth conducts of Navratra Festival commencing from 8th October this year at Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine.
Stressing on attractive programmes of public interests to be presented during festival days, Dr. Kotwal asked the officers to come up with innovative and impressive events with in the available resources to ensure maximum public participation. He said being a momentous affair of Jammu Division stress should also be given on the traditional programmes.
The Divisional Commissioner said that the main aim of organizing the festival is to showcase the culture and traditions of Jammu and all the steps have been taken by the administration and the organizers of the festival to make the event a grand success. He said that the aim of the government through organization of such festivals is to attract more pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Giving details of the events scheduled to be conducted at Katra during Navratra days, Director Tourism, Jammu, Mr. R. K. Verma apprised that the main programme include Shoba Yatra, All India Devotional Song Contest, Kathua pravachan, Wrestling Competition and Cultural events adding that programme would be organized both during the day and also in the evenings. He said Katra will be illuminated during the nine days and different government departments like Handicraft, Handloom etc will put up their stalls. It was decided that best decorated Hotel/ Restaurant during the Navratra Festival at Katra would be awarded by the festival organizing committee.
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