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| Audience spell bound in Katra | | Navratra festival-2008 | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Katra, Oct 7: Katra town, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, has become the focal point for the pilgrims visiting the cave shrine in the Shivalik Hills especially during the Navratra festival being organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Tourism Department in coordination with other Departments and local Associations of the town.
To showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage and traditions of the region, Cultural Association of Katra has done remarkable job by presenting tableaus highlighting the rich and varied culture of the region in the cultural procession taken out daily in the evenings.
Last evening, on seventh Navratra, the procession started from Asia Chowk by lighting the Jyoti jointly by the District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma and SSP Reasi, Varinder Sharma. The long procession, after passing through the main bazaars, dak bungalow road and Jammu road, culminated at the Higher Secondary School Katra.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Varinder Slathia, Deputy Director Tourism, Amit Sharma and Tourist Officer, Katra, Raj Kapahi, members of Navratra celebration committee, prominent citizens and pilgrims in large numbers also participated in the procession.
Meanwhile, in the All India Devotional Song Competition, being held daily in Yog Ashram Katra, Meenu Atwal of Punjab was awarded Ist prize of Rs. 5000 while the IInd prize was shared by Juhi Rai and Varun Kotwal of Rs. 3000 and the third prize of Rs. 2000was also jointly shared by Surinder Hans and Parveen. In all 16 singers from within and outside the state participated.
Besides locals, pilgrims in large number witnessed the cultural program organized by the Song and Drama Division.
In the meantime the Hassaya Vayang Pratiyogita, the most sought event of the Navratra Festival concluded at Durga Bhavan Udhampur last evening. Devinder Thakur of Udhampur who was adjudged as best comedian won a cash prize of Rs.25000 for his extra ordinary performance in the humorous stage show organized as part of festival by the Hassaya Vayang Manch, Katra with the active support of Shree Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board and State Tourism Department.
Thakur, a teacher by profession, gave a thrilling performance at the jam packed bhavan making the large crowd to burst into bumps of laughter.
Mukesh Vohra of Amritsar and Manoj Saberwal of Jullunder who were adjudged 2nd and 3rd got cash prize of Rs.10000 and 5000 respectively. |
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