KATRA, OCTOBER 17: The holy Town of Katra witnessed varied devotional and cultural activities, including Prabhat Feri, Shobha Yatra and ‘Mata Ki Kahani’, as part of the ongoing Navratra Festival 2026. A large number of devotees, pilgrims and locals participated in the celebrations.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kameshwar Puri attended the Shobha Yatra as the Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the religious and cultural significance of the Navratra Festival and appreciated the efforts to preserve the region’s rich spiritual traditions. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and harmony and ensuring a welcoming environment for devotees visiting the holy town. The Shobha Yatra featured colourful tableaux depicting spiritual grandeur of revered deities.
The Prabhat Feri attracted enthusiastic participation from devotees, who sang bhajans and chanted religious hymns. ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ offered devotees an opportunity to connect with the spiritual significance and religious traditions associated with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Meanwhile, the All India Devotional Song Competition at Yog Ashram Complex also attracted a huge crowd of devotees. The competition is being organised by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department and PTC Network, with support from sponsors, the District Administration and the local community.
Among the 15 participants, Rahul Lakhotra secured first position, while Bunty and Narinder Kumar shared second position. Dr. Arvind Kaur, Netra Tikku, Ajay Kumar, Gurdeep Singh and Surjit Lalka jointly secured third position.
The competition was judged by music experts Dr. Surinder Sharma, C.L. Verma, Suraj Singh and Ravi Raguvanshi. Suraj Singh and former competition winner Ravi Raguvanshi enthralled the audience with their performances, drawing an enthusiastic response. The event also saw the participation of representatives from the administration, media, tourism sector and local organisations.
The day’s programmes highlighted Katra’s rich spiritual heritage and added to the festive atmosphere, reinforcing the message of faith, devotion and cultural unity.
