Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Sept 24: Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal today chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for Navratra Festival to be held from October 13 to 21 in the foothills of the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra.
The Divisional Commissioner asked the officers of the PWD (R&B) to ensure that all the roads leading to Katra have proper lighting arrangements and the roads are repaired on speedy basis. He asked the PDD officers to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the festival and instructed the PHE Department to ensure supply of potable drinking water to the pilgrims during the event.
The Divisional Commissioner said that the economy of Jammu revolves around the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage as around 1 crore pilgrims visit this holy shrine every year. While the mega event could not be held last year due to floods in the State, but this time, no stone should be left unturned to make the event a huge success.
The IGP, Jammu Danish Rana informed the Divisional Commissioner that fool proof security arrangements will be put in place to ensure the safety of devotees during the pilgrimage.
He also directed SSP Reasi and SP Katra to devise a viable traffic management system for better management of yatra.
Director Tourism, Jammu R K Varma informed that the department wants to concentrate on specific tourism promotional activities at mega scale.
Briefing the Divisional Commissioner about the various programmes to be organized during the festival, Director Tourism said that the festival will begin on October 13 with lighting of traditional lamp followed by Shobha Yatra, depicting the cultural heritage of the State and the country.
To promote the budding artists, an All India Devotional Song Competition will be organized at Yog Ashram, Katra. Besides this, cultural programmes will be organized by Song and Drama Division, Government of at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra.
During the festival, the devotees will get a chance to listen to religious discourses by spiritual personalities on Ramayan and Bhagwat Gita path to be organized by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
The International Wrestling Competition to be organized by J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association will be the main attraction of the festival. The wrestlers hailing from Belarus, England and Ukraine will flex muscles with the local wrestlers adding to the splendor of the festival. Besides this, Hasaya Vyang, Kavi Samellan and cultural programmes will be organized by the concerned committees to give a traditional look to the event.
The Director Tourism appealed the representatives of Hotel and Restaurant Association, Travel Agents Association and the local shopkeepers to illuminate their establishments and keep the city clean and green throughout the festival so that a positive message goes around the nation.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Sushma Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB A K Sahu, SSP Traffic National Highway Sanjay Kotwal, Director Urban Local Bodies Soujanya Sharma, Director Doordarshan, Jammu Anajali Sharma, Director Radio Kashmir, Jammu V K Sambyal, Joint Director Information, Jammu Nagendra Singh Jamwal, General Manager JKTDC Anju Gupta, SP Reasi Sujit Kumar, President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma and other officers of concerned departments.
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