By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 20 Mar: Taking a cue from the decision of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Pushkar Singh Dhami Government has also announced release of Rs 1 lakh for each district to be given for celebration of Chaitra Navratri. Making this announcement, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also declared that the Chaitra Navratri, starting from 22 March, will be celebrated this time as Nari Shakti Utsav (Women Empowerment Festival) across the state. Programmes of worship of the Goddess will be organised in each district with cultural programmes. For this, the culture department has released one lakh rupees, each, to all the district magistrates on the directions of CM Dhami.
Culture Department Secretary Harichandra Semwal confirmed that, on the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Navratri, nine forms of Maa Durga will be worshiped with rituals. He added that Chaitra Navratri has been given special importance in Vedas and Puranas. It has been considered the basis of self-purification and liberation. Worshipping Maa Durga during Chaitra Navratri is considered to remove negative energy and ensure circulation of positive energy all around. Religious and cultural programmes will be organised in all major Devi temples and Shaktipeeths in the state on the occasion. It may be recalled that the nine-day Navratri festival is celebrated twice a year. Once, in the spring, and the second time, in autumn.
On these auspicious dates of Chaitra Navratri, the government will run a special campaign, keeping in view the above objectives and public sentiments, in all the major Goddess Temples / Shakti Peethas of all the districts of the state, from 22 to 30 March. Navratri will be celebrated as Nari Shakti Utsav and it has been decided to organise Durga Saptami / Ramcharitmanas / Devi Gayan / Devi Jagran related sermons on this occasion. Women and girls will be especially encouraged to participate in these programmes.
He said that, for the organisation of this festival, a committee will be formed by the District Magistrates at the district/development block levels, in which the cooperation of the District Information Officer will be taken to connect the general public with the organisations and cultural, religious programmes will be hosted with public participation. Details of the programmes to be hosted at the block and the district levels will be worked out by the district committees.
