Reasi, Oct 15:
Navratra Festival 2018, being organized by the state administration and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is successfully attracting tourists from outside the state. Tourists from all over India are amazed by the display of cultural diversity of the state. Continuing its success, on the fifth day of its opening, the Navratra Festival, continued with great pomp and show. A ShobhaYatra was paraded through the town on the occasion in the evening. The chief guest of the day was the Additional District Development Commissioner Reasi, Ramesh Chander. He along with other dignitaries thoroughly enjoyed the show. Other dignitaries present included Director Tourism OP Bhagat, SDM Katra Ashok Choudhary, ADTO Katra Dr Umesh Shan, SDPO Katra Vivek Shekhar among others. The ShobhaYatra was studded with various Dogra cultural dances like Kud, Hiran dance, Dandaras, Pahadi dance along with a presentation of jaatar, a traditional way of paying obeisance to the ancestors. Performers from others states of the country also presented their cultural dances at the occasion. Jagoi dance of Manipur was presented by young artists of the state, while Kalbelia dance was performed by Rajasthani artists. Garba was also performed by Gujarati dancers.
BawaJitto play was also performed in the auditorium of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre. At the open-air theatre, Railway Station Katra, a group performed two shows of Mata kiKahani, a musical theatre presentation in the evening.
All India Devotional Song Competition which is also a part of Navratra Festival 2018 entered its 5th day. Kaustubh from Rajasthan clinched the Ist position and qualified directly for semifinal to be held on 16th November. Lalit Bhardwaj from Jammu bagged 2nd position whereas and the 3rd position was shared by 3 Participants- Shriya Sharma from Ludhiana, Rajiv Salotra from Jammu and Sarabjeet Singh from Jammu. On the occasion, a colorful Prabhat Pheri was also taken out by Jammu and Kashmir Association of Prabhat Pherry with the active support of local people of Katra. The Prabhat Pheri began & culminated at Bus Stand, Katra after passing through Shiv Mandir Ban Ganga Road, Shalimar Garden, Chintamani & main bazaar Katra. Enroute large number of devotees, NCC students and artists of regional outreach bureau were chanting mantras & singing bhajans of Goddess MaaKatyani.
