In Jammu and Kashmir, both large and small temples are all set to host pilgrims who will be visiting to offer prayers on the first day of Navratri.
The festivities will kick off in Katra town, located in the Reasi district, with an air of religious devotion and celebration. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has diligently prepared for a seamless pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. This festival is expected to draw more tourists and boost religious and pilgrimage tourism in the region.
In anticipation of the event, prominent temples across the Jammu division, including Bawe Wali Mata, Chichi Mata, Sukrala Mata Temple, Kol Kandoli, Chandi Mata Temple in Bhaderwah, and Padder Kishtwar, have been beautifully illuminated and adorned to welcome devotees.
This year’s Navratri festival promises an exciting addition: a presentation of Karnataka’s renowned ‘Yakshagana’ theatre, centered around Mata Vaishno Devi. Yakshagana is a form of dance-drama originating from South India, closely associated with Karnataka. It is characterized by elaborate and colorful costumes, intricate makeup, and distinctive masks. The inaugural day will feature a showcase of Yakshagana at the Yog Ashram Ground in Katra.
The annual Navratri festival is scheduled to run from October 15 to October 23. The opening event will be held at Yog Ashram Ground in Katra, followed by a Shobha yatra and a series of events highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir and India as a whole. Various programs, including ‘Prabhat Pheri,’ ‘Mata ki Kahani’ recitations, devotional song competitions, Ram Leela, and ‘Dangalm’ will be held during the nine-day celebration. The festival will also feature wrestling competitions, performances by specially-abled children, and other cultural activities.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has directed the inclusion of various forms of art and theatre from different parts of the country in the festival.
To enhance the Navratri experience, the festival will implement stronger registration and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) setups.
The number of registration counters has been increased to 37, and the registration process will begin at 4 AM, instead of 5 AM, ensuring that pilgrims won’t have to endure long queues. This will be managed based on the carrying capacity of the Yatra track.
During the nine-day Navratri festival, devotees worship Maa Durga’s nine incarnations, each day dedicated to a different goddess manifestation. They maintain fasts, recite shlokas, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and seek the goddess’s blessings for prosperity and joy.
Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil, culminating in Dussehra. In North India, Ramlila performances, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, reenact Lord Ram’s triumph over Ravana during this auspicious festival.