Reasi, September 28, 2013: Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today  launched website for Navratra Festival Celebration Katra-2013 for seeking greater participation of public and raising donations for colourful programmes and religious events. The decision was earlier taken in a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Shan-tmanu.

Devotees and interested visitors as well as pilgrims can log on to http://www.reasi.gov.in for information on Navratra Festival Katra and also have the option to deposit or online transfer their donations to account number 913010039609535 of AXIS Bank opened for this purpose. The contribution statement and expenditure details will be displayed online.
Every year Government contributes around Rs 40 lakhs for face-lifting of Katra town and organising various programmes during the Navratra Festival and double this amount is raised by local people of Katra as per reports. This year district administration has decided to increase the quantum of participation and draw donations across the country for celebration of famous Navratra Festival at base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine in Holy town of Katra.
Later, Deputy Commissioner accompanied by Director Tourism Saujanya Sharma convened a meeting of various committees at Katra to review and finalise the celebration arrangements.  Various cultural and religious programmes will be organised in 9-day long festival which is scheduled to be attended by top dignitaries of State.
Governor has been invited to inaugural function while Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Tourism Minister G A Mir, PHE & Irrigation Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Housing Minister Raman Bhalla, Urban Development Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora are among various guests who will attend daily functions and various celebrity singers from Bollywood will play devotional songs. An All India Devotional Song Competition is also being organised besides other programmes.

Source: The Hindu, September 28, 2013