Special prayers during 9 days for peace to departed souls of calamity victims
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 21: Charged with devotion, the devotees are all set to take a dip in spirituality during the nine auspicious days of Navratras starting from tomorrow wherein special rituals like Hawan/Yagya and prayers will be held at almost all the major temples and shrines in J&K for well being of the world and also for peace to the departed souls of those who were killed in the recent cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods triggered by incessant heavy rains.
All the major temples and shrines in Jammu have been beautifully decorated using special flowers and lights while the Police authorities are deploying cops in adequate number at all the prominent shrines to prevent any untoward incident during these days.
As pilgrimage to the cave shrine of revered Mata Vaishno Devi Ji in Katra has resumed from September 17 through Tarakot track after it was suspended for 22 days due to landslide and heavy rainfall, the visiting pilgrims are rejoicing the fair weather conditions.
Chanting “Jai Mata Di” these pilgrims now continue moving uphill to reach the cave shrine of the revered Goddess to pay obeisance.
The fort shrine of Bawe Wali Mata temple resting on a hillock on the bank of river Tawi is all popular for the serpentine queues of devotees which during Navratra days appear much before the sunrise.
When contacted, head priest at the shrine, Vivek Magotra said that the temple has made the best arrangements for the auspicious Navratras.
“Fresh flowers, both country grown, and imported including Orchid, Lily Oriental, Carnation etc are being used to decorate the sanctum sanctorum at the shrine,” he maintained adding that painting works at the temple have been completed and the lighting work during Navratras will be unique.
Magotra also said that after every three days the flowers used in decoration will be changed.
“Temple timings during Navratras will be 4 am to 1 pm and then from 2 pm to 10 pm as the shrine will remain closed from 1 pm to 2 pm for Bhog to the Goddess,” he continued.
The priest also said that a Hawan will be performed tomorrow morning to pray for the well being of all and for seeking blessings from the deity for peace to the departed souls of those killed in recent cloudbursts, landslides and heavy rains in J&K.
The chief priest at the revered Kol Kandoli temple in Nagrota, Jai Kumar Sharma informed that these Navratras will witness devotional songs at the shrine by artists coming from Delhi and Mumbai.
“Flowers, lights and other decoration material has been brought from Gaziabad to beautify the temple for these nine auspicious days,” he said.
Sharma also said that there will be a Hawan at the temple tomorrow morning for the well being of the world and also for peace to the souls of those killed in recent natural calamities across J&K and other parts of the country.
“During Navratras the temple will reopen at 4 am and there will be Arti till 5.30 am and in evening the Arti will be from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm while the temple will close at 11.30 pm.
Reports with similar programmes were there from other districts also.
However, no special programme has been planned at Sarthal Devi temple in mountainous Kishtwar district but Subash Shastri, priest at the temple informed that as routine there will be Hawan and other rituals even during Navratras by those who visit the shrine to perform Mundan ceremony (shaving the head) of their children.
He informed that the Goddess at the shrine is the deity for many communities of the area and these people consider it auspicious to visit the shrine on special days like Navratras.
Another Pujari at the temple, Ashish Bharti also echoed similar views.
Meanwhile, in a new development Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) will take all the used flowers in Navratras from the temples for making compost.
Dr. Devansh Yadav, JMC Commissioner informed that this compost will be given back to the temples for using in plants at the Parks like the one near Bahu Fort shrine.
On facilities JMC will provide during Navratras, he said that the urban local body will place water tankers and mobile toilets at all the prominent temples to facilitate the visiting devotees.
“High mast lights and street lights near the temples are being repaired while cleanliness and sanitation will be ensured near prominent temples,” Dr. Yadav maintained adding: “Fogging and spray around the temples is being done and stagnant waters cleared to avoid mosquitoes breeding.”
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