KATRA, Oct 20: The Navratra Festival 2026, organised by the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu in collaboration with Divisional Administration Jammu, District Administration Reasi & Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board concluded today at Katra after a series of religious, cultural and traditional programmes.
The festival was organised to promote pilgrimage and tourism in the region and to provide yatris and visitors an immersive experience of the religious and cultural traditions associated with Katra and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.
The Shobha Yatras, Mata Ki Kahani, Dangal, Devotional Song Competition and various other cultural programmes remained the major highlights of the festival, attracting participation from pilgrims, tourists, local residents and artists. The weeklong celebrations were conducted under the supervision of Secretary to the Government, Department of Tourism J&K Avny Lavasa (IAS) and Dr. Vikas Gupta (JKAS) Director Tourism Jammu.
Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma was the Chief Guest on the closing ceremony, MLA Baldev Raj Sharma and MLA Reasi Kuldeep Raj Dubey were the special guests.
Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, Aijaz Qaiser delivered the introductory address wherein he gave a detailed overview of the 9 day navratra festival showcasing local culture and highlighted the importance of organising such festivals for promoting pilgrimage tourism in the region. He emphasized on providing visitors with a meaningful experience that combines spirituality, culture and tradition.
He also extended his thanks and gratitude towards Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner Reasi Sh. Kumar Abhishek (IAS) & Chief Executive Officer Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra Sachin Kumar Vaishya (IAS) for the support during the weeklong celebration.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma lauded the role of tourism department and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for organizing such festivals in preserving cultural traditions and strengthening the moral and social values of individuals. He said that such events also provide an opportunity for the younger generation to remain connected with the country’s rich heritage and traditions. A ballay of Bollywood celebrities namely Preeti Sapru, Deepak Prasher & Ganesh Jain also attended the closing ceremony.
The grand finale of the Devotional Song Competition was one of the major attractions of the festival, witnessing enthusiastic participation by talented singers. Aditya Kumar emerged as the winner of the competition with his devotional performance. The competition provided a platform for showcasing musical talent while adding a distinct devotional and cultural dimension to the Navratra celebrations. Special performance by famous Punjabi singer Inderjeet Singh and Sonali Dogra were applauded by the audience.
The event was also attended by Deputy Director Tourism, Jammu, Pankaj Sasan; Assistant Director Tourism, Jammu, Vishal Sadhotra; Accounts Officer Annie Jamwal; and Assistant Director Tourism, Katra, Rajesh Raina, besides other officers and officials of the Tourism Department and associated agencies.
The conclusion of the Navratra Festival 2026 marked the culmination of the annual celebrations in Katra, bringing together religious observances, cultural performances and traditional activities around the Navratras and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.