Devotees immerse ‘Saakh’ in rivers after pooja
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: The Durga Ashtami falling on eighth day of Navratra was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across Jammu region today.
There was a huge rush of devotees in all the temples of Goddess Durga across Jammu region and hawans and pooja archna was also performed at various temples and Ashrams to pay obeisance to Goddess Durga.
Though the nine -day long Navratra festival concludes on Maha Navmi tomorrow but Saakh which was sown by devotes in their houses and temples on first day of Navratra was immersed by many people in the rivers and canals today.
The people gathered at the bank of river Tawi, Ranbir canal at various places besides river Chenab in Akhnoor to immerse the Saakh after performing Kanjak Poojan today.
However, some devotees will immerse Saakh tomorrow morning after performing the religious rituals attached to Navratra festival.
There was a heavy rush of devotees at Bawe Wali Mata temple, Bahu Fort from early in the morning to pay their obeisance to Goddess.
Reports coming from other districts said that heavy rush of devotees was at Chechi Mata Temple Samba, Sukhrala Mata and Sundri Kot Mata, Temples Billawar, Jodawali Mata and Dhollawali Mata temples in Bani, Kali Mata temple in Jasrota Kathua and Mata Sundribala temple in Nagri Parole, Kathua.
In connection with nine -day long Navratra festival Pushpa Archana was performed as a culmination of Navdurga Pooja at Swami Kumar Ji Geeta Satsang Ashram, Muthi Phase IInd. A large number of devotees attended the function which included saints, scholars, social and political activists. Swami Kumar Ji threw light on the significance of the Navratra festival with special reference to Durga Ashtami. Relief Commissioner, Migrant, M L Raina was also present during Puranahuti.
On the occasion of Durga Ashtami a Maha Yagya was performed at Durga Nag Temple Srinagar in Kashmir Valley by the Durga NagTrust headed by Vijay Bakaya, former Chief Secretary and MLC. A large number of devotees attended the function and they were served the prashad after Puranahuti. The hawan started yesterday evening and Puranahuti was performed today.
A religious function was held at Sharika Peeth, Subash Nagar on the occasion of Durga Ashtami today. The function started with Pushparchana under the supervision of the president of the Sanstha, M K Jalali. A large number of devotees attended the function and paid obeisance to Goddess Durga.
Thousands of devotees thronged the ancient Sheetla Mata temple, perched on a hillock called Rehoshra on the eastern side of the Chinta valley in Bhadarwah here, to celebrate ‘Ashtami’, a symbol of Nag culture, with religious fervour and gaiety.
The festival, which marks the beginning of autumn, saw a large number of devotees trekking eight kilometre steep hill to pay obeisance at the 8,000 feet high ancient temple, the doors (kewaar) of which were opened on first Navratra, officials said.
The place comes alive during Navratras, especially on Ashtami (eighth day of Navratra) as devotees converge at the temple surrounded by snow-peaked mountains to seek the blessings of Sheetla Mata, a local deity.
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