Devotees Participate with Religious Fervour; Procession Promotes Spirituality, Social Service and Cleanliness
KATRA, Oct 15: An impressive Prabhat Pheri was taken out from Bus Stand Katra on Wednesday on the fifth day of the Navratra Festival Katra 2026, dedicated to Maa Skandamata. A large number of devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi from Katra and various parts of the country participated in the religious procession with immense devotion and enthusiasm.
The devotees sang devotional bhajans and danced to the rhythmic beats of drums as the Prabhat Pheri passed through the town, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere. Residents along the route accorded a warm welcome to the participants by showering flower petals on the procession and extending their greetings.
Earlier, the Prabhat Pheri was flagged off by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jatinder Sambyal, along with Dr. Gopal Dutt, retired Medical Superintendent, in the presence of Rattan Singh Manhas. The dignitaries formally inaugurated the procession by cutting a red ribbon and breaking a green coconut, marking an auspicious beginning to the devotional march.
After passing through Shiv Mandir and Chintamani Mandir via Banganga Road, the procession received a warm welcome at the Darshani Deodi CRPF Gate. Commandant Pardeep Goswami of the CRPF’s 6th Battalion, Assistant Commandant Rahul Singh and their team greeted the participants and offered refreshments as a gesture of hospitality and goodwill.
Groups associated with the Central Bureau of Communication, including Bishwanath and Party, along with members of Nav Usha NGO, Chinar Art Foundation and numerous other devotees, also joined the procession, adding to its vibrancy and religious fervour.
Addressing the gathering, the chief guests highlighted the importance of selfless service, compassion and dedication towards the welfare of society. They urged participants to help the needy and discharge their responsibilities sincerely without expecting rewards, emphasising that positive outcomes follow when actions are guided by good intentions and a spirit of service.
Raj Kumar Padha appreciated the efforts of the Municipal Committee, Katra, in implementing cleanliness initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He observed that the Katra Bazaar presented a neat and clean appearance.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining cleanliness in the holy town, he said a clean environment was essential for preserving its sanctity and providing a pleasant experience to the lakhs of pilgrims who visit Katra to pay obeisance at the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The daily Prabhat Pheris are being organised as an integral part of Navratra Festival Katra 2026 in association with the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the District Administration, Reasi.
The initiative aims to promote religious devotion, preserve cultural traditions and provide pilgrims and local residents with an opportunity to participate collectively in the Navratra celebrations.
Among those present on the occasion were Ajay Sharma, Ramnik Sharma, Aman Mahajan, Ashwini Katoch, Neelam Singh, Shamsher Singh, Rajesh Gupta, Sanjay Kesar, Tilak Raj, Rattan Chand, Baldev Kumar, Bittu, P. N. Kaul, Prashant, Sanjay Tickoo, P. C. Rana, Hemraj and others.