Navratra festival culminates with immersion of ‘Sakh’

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: The festival of Ramnavami was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety  across the Jammu region today.
Devotees in large numbers thronged various temples across the city since early morning to offer prayers and seek blessings.
The day, which marks the culmination of Chaitra Navratri, is also celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama.

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Huge rush of devotees could be witnessed at the famous Raghunath temple and Kali Mata temple commonly known as ‘Bawe Wali Mata’.
The Bikram Chowk was abuzz with people since early morning as devotees were seen waiting for the matadors to visit the Kali Mata temple.
Long queues of devotees chanting ‘bhajans’ could be seen outside the temples, especially at the Raghunath temple and the Kali Mata temple.
After culmination of over week long Navratra festival which started on march 18th devotees also immersed ‘Sakh’ in the river water at different places.
There was a bee line of devotees on the bank of river Tawi near Bikram Chowk from early morning while large number of devotees drawn from different parts of city to immerse the Sakh in the river.
Heavy rush of devotees was also seen at Akhnoor Ghat of river Chenab where a large number of devotees were seen busy in immersing the Sakh and paying obeisance in the temple.
There was a heavy rush of devotees at Kali Mata temple Bawe, Jammu who were waiting in long queues for darshan from early morning. As per reports over 50,000 devotees performed darshan at the holy temple up to 6 pm this evening. As per reports over 2.60 lakh devotees performed darshan in the temple of Goddess at Bawe during last eight days of Navratra festival.
Reports reaching here from Kathua over five lakh devotees performed darshan in various temples in the district during the Navratra festival. About 60,000 devotees from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh as well as J&K performed darshan in the temples of Joda Wali Mata and Dholla Wali Mata in Bani tehsil of Kathua district.
Reports said 40,000 pilgrims visited Sukhrala Mata temple in Billawar during the festival while 25,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Chanchalla Mata temple Basholi, 60,000 pilgrims visited Jasrota Fort in Kathua during the Navratra festival and 40,000 devotees visited Sundri Kot Temple Billawar.
Reports said 70,000 devotees paid obeisance at Sundri Bala Temple in Pagri Parole Kathua and 40,000 devotees visited Asha Purni temple at Kathua during the festival.
Thousands of devotees also visited the holy temple of Cheechi Mata at Samba during the Navratra festival and paid obeisance to Goddess.
Meanwhile, hawans were performed at various places on the occasion of culmination of Navratra festival today.
The annual hawan ceremony of Durga Ashtami organised every year by Kashmiri Pandit Sabha was celebrated with usual gaiety and religious fervour today at Sabha premises Ambphalla, Jammu.
The annual hawan started yesterday on Saptmi to pay obeisance to all deities and homa was carried on next day. The Puran Ahuti was conducted in the afternoon and after that a discourse was given by K P Sabha president, K K Khosa. Surinder Ambardar MLC graced the occasion. This was followed by serving of Prashad to devotees.
To inculcate moral and spiritual values among the masses, Bhagawaan Gopinathji Trust organised eight day long spiritual activity at Bhagawaan Gopinath Ashram, Udaiwala Bohri during the auspicious Navratra.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Ashram during these days and it was gratifying to watch the devotees participating in the spiritual activities in a spirit of true devotion humility. The hawan actually started in the evening of March 17and Puran Ahuti was offered today. A huge gathering of devotees took part in recitation of about 15 million mantras during these auspicious days. Prashad was also served to devotees on the culmination of function today.
The nine -day long Navratra festival celebrations also concluded at Swami Kumar Ji Geeta Satsang Ashram Muthi where a large number of devotees took part in spiritual activities daily. A Pushp Archana was performed in the morning every day under the supervision of Swami Kumar Ji and on the concluding day a Hawan was performed today. Swami Ji also gave religious discourses and highlighted the significance of Navratras.
Kashmiri Sahik Samiti Trikuta Nagar celebrated Ram Navmi and birthday of Shri Sai Baba with religious fervour and gaiety at K P Bhawan Trikuta Nagar. A hawan was also performed on the occasion under the chairmanship of S K Moza,  general secretary Kewal Sher and other Executive Committee members.
After Puran Ahuti devotees were served with prashad.
Thousands of devotees thronged Maa Kali Ji temple which is famous as Tali Wali Mata at last border of India and Pakistan situated at Government Chinore Farm Gajansoo Marh area on the occasion of Ram Navmi today. The mela (religious fair) started from early in the morning and culminated in the evening. The devotees paid their obeisance in the temple to invoke blessing of Goddess.
The week long Durga Pooja concluded with a Maha Yagya at Sharika Peeth Sanstha Subash Nagar today. A large number of devotees participated in the function and after Puran Ahuti a flag hoisting was also performed by Kiran Watal chairman Vishawa Kashmiri Samaj. M K Jalali president of the Sanstha highlighted the significance of the Sanstha. A samohik prayer was held for the peace and prosperity of mankind.
The annual Nav Durga Festival was celebrated in the Sh. Pushkara Swami Sewa Ashram Laxmi Puram Chinore, Bantalab and Najabgrah Delhi. During the festival days recitation of Bhawani Sahastrinam, Bhajan, Kirtan and Satsang was performed. Pushparchana was performed in the Ashram yesterday which was followed by Flag hoisting today. The Sakh of Maa Durga was taken into a procession to Akhnoor Ghat for immersion. After culmination Prashad was served to devotees.
On the occasion of Ramnavmi, Mata Baderkali Asthapan Committee (MBAC) Wadipora, Handwara, Kashmir, organised ‘bhandharas’ at the ‘Deviangan’ of Mata Baderkali Kashmir and at Nandkeshwar Ashram, Akalpur, Jammu.
Hundreds of devotees attended the ‘bhandara’ at both the places. Bhajan and kirtan were held on the occasion, making the atmosphere ecstatic and blissful.
Member Legislative Council (MLC), Ajay Bharti was prominent among others who attended the ‘bhandara’.
Shardha Colony Welfare Committee, Patoli Brahamana, Jammu organised ‘yagya’ on the eve of Ramnavmi at Shiv Mandir, Patoli.
The yagya began yesterday and culminated with ‘Purnahuti’ today.
A large number of devotees attended the ‘yagya’ to seek blessings. The devotees held bhajan and kirtan on the occasion.
Member Legislative Council (MLC), Surinder Ambardar was prominent among others who attended the ‘yagya’.

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