Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Department of Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi presented the curtain raiser to the Navratra festival being organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji Shrine Board from 21st to 29th September at Katra here today. The Minister highlighted various activities planned for the 9 day festival.Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, CA and PD, Tribal Affairs, Relief & Rehabilitation, Ajay Nanda, Commissioner/Secretary Tourism, M.H. Malik, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr M K Bhandari, IGP , S D Singh Jamwal , Director Tourism Jammu, Smita Sethi, Deputy Commissioner Reasi , Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Padma Shri Balwant Thakur and senior functionaries of Tourism Department besides prominent theatre and media persons were present on the occasion.The Minister said that various initiatives are being taken to make the Navratra festival a success as pilgrims from all over the country visit the holy shrine during Navratras. New events with new concepts will be witnessed this year that will make the festival more attractive, she added.
There is a need to showcase the state's rich traditions, culture and heritage to attract more and more tourists to Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said.The Minister appreciated the efforts being put in by the Tourism Department and everyone involved in organizing the festival in its true spirit.While speaking on the occasion, MoS Finance and Planning, Ajay Nanda invited the tourists to witness the charismatic beauty of holy town Katra, the base camp for revered Goddess Vaishno Devi, during the Navratra Festival.Director Tourism Jammu, Smita Sethi said that the Tourism Department will ensure that these will be an unforgettable nine days full of devotion and celebration.On promotion of new activities in the festival during interactive session with the media, the Minister said that various mediums of promotion including Radio, TV, Print and Social media are being used in this regard.IGP, S D Singh Jamwal informed that elaborate arrangements pertaining to security being made in the venue and enroute besides installation of CCTVs. Shobha Yatra, Prabhat Pheris, Mata KI Kahani, Ram Leela, Cultural Programme, All India Devotional Song Competition, Guldasta, Wrestling Competition and Folk Dance are among the main attractions of the Navratara Festival.