Navratra Prabhat Pheri concludes amidst devotion and festivity
19/10/2026
Katra,October 19 (KIP)-The nine-day Navratra Festival Prabhat Pheri in the holy town of Katra the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi concluded on a spiritually vibrant note this morning on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami amidst the chanting of devotional bhajans, resounding Jaikaras of Maa Vaishno Devi and rhythmic beats of drums at Bus Stand Katra. The Prabhat Pheri, which formed an integral part of Navratra Festival Katra 2026 was jointly organized by the Department of Tourism, J&K Government and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Katra in association with the J&K Association of Prabhat Pheri with the support and cooperation of various other organizations and stakeholders.
Earlier the grand concluding procession was flagged off by the chief guest Sh. Baldev Raj Sharma MLA Shree Mata Vaishnodevi Katra along with guest of honour Sh.Rajesh Raina Assistant Director tourism Katra in the presence of special guests Sh. Gopal Dutt Medical Superintendent and Sh. Shiv Kumar Sharma former Joint Secretary, J&K Sports Council. The dignitaries formally inaugurated the procession by cutting the red ribbon and breaking a green coconut at Bus Stand Katra, from where the colourful procession commenced amid great religious fervour and enthusiasm.
The concluding day's Prabhat Pheri witnessed enthusiastic participation by artists of the Central Bureau of Communications representing Jammu and Kashmir along with a large number of local residents, pilgrims and devotees from Delhi and other parts of the country. The main attraction of the day was the beautiful tableau of Maa Siddhidatri, the ninth manifestation of Goddess Durga showcased by Ms. Nikita which added spiritual splendour to the procession. The devotees enthusiastically chanted the Jaikaras of Maa Vaishno Devi and danced to the tunes of drumbeaters along the route, creating an atmosphere of devotion, unity and celebration. The participation of pilgrims from different states further reflected Katra's importance as a major spiritual destination and the unifying power of religious and cultural traditions.
Addressing the gathering chief guest Sh. Baldev Raj Sharma extended his greetings and prayed that Maa Vaishno Devi may shower her choicest blessings upon everyone on the pious occasion of Ram Navami. He appreciated the dedicated efforts of the members of the J&K Association of Prabhat Pheri for organizing the nine-day event in a colourful, successful and spiritually enriching manner. He observed that such religious and cultural initiatives strengthen the bond between devotees and the holy shrine while adding vibrancy to the Navratra celebrations in Katra.The Senior Citizens Forum led by Sh. Rattan Chand also participated in the Prabhat Pheri in large numbers reflecting the enthusiasm and collective spirit of the local community.
A felicitation ceremony was subsequently organized to acknowledge the valuable contribution of dignitaries, participating organizations and members of the J&K Association of Prabhat Pheri who worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth conduct of the nine-day event. The chief guest Sh. Baldev Raj Sharma and guest of honour Ad Katra were felicitated by the association members with traditional pagaris, chunaris and mementos as a mark of respect and appreciation. Mementos were also presented to representatives of various organizations and association members in recognition of their contribution, coordination and dedicated efforts in making the Prabhat Pheri a grand success.
Senior journalists Rakesh Sharma and Himanshu Purohit were also felicitated by the chief guest.
Following the felicitation ceremony, Kanya Pujan was performed by the dignitaries in accordance with the religious traditions associated with Navratras. Halwa prasad was subsequently served to the pilgrims, devotees and participants, marking the conclusion of the nine-day devotional celebrations with a spirit of reverence, community participation and goodwill.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Raj Kumar Padha, President of the J&K Association of Prabhat Pheri, stated that the grand success of the event was the outcome of the collective coordination, dedication and sincere efforts of the people of Katra particularly the members of the association. He expressed his gratitude to the J&K Tourism Department, District Administration Reasi, Health Department, Police Department, Fire and Emergency Services Department, CRPF 6th Battalion Katra, school students, Municipal Committee Katra, print and electronic media and the people of Katra for extending their active cooperation and support throughout the nine days of Prabhat Pheri
Among the association members present on the occasion were Ajay Sharma, Ramnik Nawada, Aman Mahajan ,R. S. Manhas, Rattan Sharma, Neelam Singh, Rakesh Sharma,Sohan Thakur,Vishal Pandit,Sanjay Kesar,Munish Kapoor, Renueji Dhar, Rattan Chand,Babu Ram,Parkash Raj, Rajesh Gupta, Vimal Sharma, P. N. Kaul , Suman Kotwal. Among other prominent participants were Babu Ram Dubey, Murlidhar, Prashant, Sanjay Tickoo, P. N. Raina, Sanjesh and others.