Jammu, Sep 26 : The nine-day Katra festival will be starting from October 7 in the holy town–the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The festival was not organised last year due to COVID pandemic.
This year, the festival will begin on October 7 and culminate on October 15.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer in Sunday visited Katra and conducted spot inspection of the venues proposed for conducting different activities during the annual Navratra festival 2021.
He was accompanied by Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai; Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Charadeep Singh; SSP Reasi, Shailender Singh; Assistant Director Tourism, Ambika Bali; SDM Katra, Chairman Municipal Committee, presidents of hotelier association, wrestling association, and other concerned.
The Divisional Commissioner took a round of various places including Auditorium Spiritual Growth Centre, Hotel Panchvati Continent, Fountain Chowk, Yog Ashram, Raghunath Temple, Higher Secondary School Katra, SMVDSB Stadium Katra, which have been designated as the venues for different events.
Assistant Director Tourism and Presidents of Hotel Association, prominent citizens and organisers apprised the Divisional Commissioner about the proposed activity on each location.
It was informed that devotional song program would be held at Yog Ashram besides Devi Bhagwat Katha would be held at Raghunath Temple with 50 percent capacity.
The Div Com stressed that in view of covid pandemic all the activities should be planned according to the SOPs. The Div Com stressed on adhering to the covid protocols while holding the festival events.
He also suggested excluding activities involving large gatherings and emphasised on using LED screens at different locations to avoid large gatherings at a single place.
It was informed that the dangal (wrestling competition) will be held at Sports Stadium with limited audience and after conducting Covid testing of the wrestlers.
The entry of the public will be allowed strictly through passes.
He also took stock of arrangements made for congregational programmes like Prabhat Pheris, Shobha Yatra, Mata ki Kahani recitation and other cultural items scheduled to be organised during the festival.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned officers to put in place all necessary arrangements and work in a well coordinated manner to make preparations well in advance.(UNI)