JAMMU: As a part of Navratra celebrations, ‘Surya Putri Aarti’ was performed on the bank of River Tawi near Hari Ki Pauri in Bahu Fort on Sunday evening with great religious fervour and gaiety.
Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla accompanied by a group of Brahmans performed ‘Surya Putri Aarti’.
Director Tourism, Soujanya Sharma besides prominent citizens including large number of pilgrims and locals participated in the celebrations.
After ‘Surya Putri Aarti’, the devotees offered flowers and earthen lamps ‘Diyas’ to River Tawi in order to pay regards to their ancestors.
Addressing the pilgrims, Bhalla said that government is taking up several steps to develop Bahu Fort area which is one of the fast emerging pilgrims destination in the State by providing modern lines way side facilities to the visitors.
The Minister asked the accompanying officers of Tourism and Culture Department to display the history of Dogra rulers at prominent places at Maha Kali temple for the knowledge of devotees. He asked for establishing a Photo Gallery at Balidan Stambh near Bahu Fort dedicated to army jawans who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Bhalla said the place has become a major attraction for those visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and other tourist spots of the State. He said the pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi first come to Shri Maha Kali Temple at Bahu Fort for darshan from across the country.
Bhalla said that with the creation of high standard tourism infrastructure at various potential places, Jammu region is fast emerging as an independent attractive destination.
Earlier, renowned artists of City of Temples also presented devotional songs which were high applauded by hundreds of pilgrims gathered on the bank of River Tawi.
In his address, Director Tourism Soujanya Sharma informed the Minister that this year Navratra festival is being cerebrated in a low key affair due to natural calamity which was hit the State during recent heavy rains and flash floods in River Tawi in Jammu and River Jhelum in Kashmir.
