Thursday September 28, 20174 DISTRICTS

DISCLAIMER“STATE TIMES”

does not take responsibility for thecontents of the advertisements

(Display/Classified)carried in this

newspaper. The paper does notendorse the same. Readers arerequested to verify the contents ontheir own before acting there upon.”

STATE TIMES NEWSKATRA: Katra city onWednesday witnessed exem-plary enthusiasm and religiousfervour during Prabhat Pheriwhich was taken out on theoccasion of Seventh Navratraby Navratra Prabhat PheriCommittee, Katra with activesupport of local people ofKatra.

Prabhat Pheri began andculminated at Bus Stand,Katra after passing throughBan Ganga Road, DakBanglow, Shalimar Garden,Chintamani, HanumanMandir and Main BazaarKatra.

Enroute devotees, keepingwith the tradition, led the pro-cession singing religiousMantras to fill the air withspirituality.

Today's Prabhat Pheri pro-vided a glimpse of the richMarathi tradition as artistsfrom Maharashtra -Ahmednagar were usingdrummer (Dhol) in their tradi-tional way.

Artists from HimachalPradesh and Ladakh alsojoined the procession andmade this event more impres-sive. Meanwhile devotees andartists from various parts of

the country continued to arriveat Katra to participate in theNavratra Prabhat Pheri event.

Chief Guest DIG, CRPFSushil Kumar Misra flaggedoff the Prabhat Pheri in pres-ence of Senior Citizen BabuRam Dubey Ex. ChairmanHotel & RestaurantAssociation, Katra, ShashiGupta and Ajay SharmaPatrons of Navratra PrabhatPheris Committee Katra.

Chief Guest appealed to thepeople to follow the path ofMaa Vaishno Devi and teach-ing of Dharma to make thenation strong and prosperous.

The committee membersfelicitated the Chief Guestwith memento.

Raj Kumar Padha ChairmanNavratra Prabhat PherisCommittee, Katra thanked thedifferent sections of the societywho are joining and support-ing the Prabhat Pheri especial-ly District Administration andsaid that we should follow thehumanitarian values andremove disparity among differ-ent sections of the society thein name of caste, creed, colour,religion etc.

The members present on theoccasion were Raj KumarDubey, Dleep Padha , ManishKapoor, Ajay Verma, KushalMagotra, Tilak Raj, DiwakarSharma, Amit Bamba, RenueDhar, Vimal Sharma, SahilSharma and Honey Singh.

Navratra Prabhat Pheri invokes spirituality

Devotees singing Bhajans at the Prabhat Pheri taken out as part of Navratra celebrations at Katra on Wednesday.

STATE TIMES NEWSKISHTWAR: As a part ofnational campaign onSwachhta Hi Sewa, P.KLanger, General Manager(GM), on Wednesday flaggedoff Dulhasti Swachhata HiSewa Rath for publicity andawareness of general publicof Kishtwar and nearby

areas to make Swachh andopen defecation free district.

The Rath was flagged off inthe presence of SureshKumar, Chief Engineer, Dr.Nisha Sharma, CMO, Dr.Ajeetgupta, Sr. DCMO, S.KParihar, Sr. Manager (Law),A.K Jha, CommandantCISF Unit and other offi-

cers, CISF personnel andrepresentatives from Unionsof NHPC.

Dulhasti power station iscontinuously organising dif-ferent activities in this cam-paign since September 15,2017, which includes mobili-sation of shopkeepers, stu-dents and others to eradicateuse of polythene, Shramdaanat public places by NHPCand CISF, yoga events forhealthy body to contributetowards SwachhSewa, lec-ture by General Managerand debate on the subject bythe students of Govt. GirlsHigher Secondary SchoolKishtwar.

The participants and win-ners of the competitions heldon theme of clean environ-ment and energy conserva-tion have also been felicitatedby the General Manager.

STATE TIMES NEWSHIRANAGAR: To com-memorate Hindi Divas,Girdhari Lal DograMemorial (GLDM) DegreeCollege Hiranagar onWednesday organised a KaviSammelan in which 18 poetsand 14 college students dis-played their talent.

The event started with thelighting of traditional lampby the Chief Guest, Dr.Naresh Kumar Gupta,Principal of the College fol-lowed by SaraswatiBandana by the students ofMusic Department of thecollege. Devotional songs bythe students enthralled theaudience.

Dr. Om Parkash Narayan

Diwadi from the PGDepartment of HindiUniversity of Jammu wasthe Guest of Honour on theoccasion.

Different poets fromJammu and Kathua partici-pated in this programme.

Prominent among themwere Dr. Guru Parsad, Dr.Rachana, Prof. KamaljeetChoudhary, Rita, RaviKumar, Neha Raina, ShashiKapoor and Kuldeep Kipi.

The programme wasanchored by Dr. NeeruSharma and Prof. JyotiRani.

Vote of thanks was pre-sented by Prof. Daya Vilas,senior faculty member of thecollege.

STATE TIMES NEWSSAMBA: Career CounselingWing of Government DegreeCollege (GDC), Samba onWednesday organised a lectureon 'Enhancing EmployabilitySkill' in collaboration withPune Institute of BusinessManagement (PIBM).

Vaibhav Mediratta andPankaj Puri were the ResourcePersons who laid emphasis onthe process of selecting rightcareer which is instrumental inshaping the destiny of the stu-dents. They further impressedupon the students how theycan get their employment in

the corporate world and canearn handsome salaries.

College Principal Dr. G.S.Rakwal appreciated the role ofCareer Counseling Wing underthe guidance of Dr. M.SPathania for organizing suchinformative lectures.

The welcome address wasgiven by Dr. M.S. Pathania.Prof. Pawan Gupta highlight-ed the various aspects of thelecture. Vote of thanks waspresented by Prof. SukhbinderKour.

The programme was attend-ed by senior faculty membersand members of CareerCounseling Cell including Dr.Ashok Bhagat, Dr. RamSingh, Dr. Narsing Dass, Prof.Asha Bharti and Dr. AshwaniKumar.

STATE TIMES NEWSKATRA: Thirteen shows of 'Mata KiKahani' have been staged by NatrangJammu as part of Navratra Festival beingorganised by Jammu and KashmirTourism in association with Shri MataVaishno Devi Shrine Board and districtadministration.

Dr. S.D.S Jamwal, Inspector General ofPolice Jammu zone was the Chief Guestduring today's performance.

Conceptualized, scripted, designed anddirected by Balwant Thakur this mes-merising performance based on the entirelegend of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is thefirst theatrical presentation ever per-formed on stage. Director Natrang andhis team of experts have conceptualizedthis spectacle on stage which kept theaudience spellbound throughout the per-formance. Right from the classic literatureto the popular folk narratives sung in tra-ditional 'Karkan' style, it took BalwantThakur three years in research, docu-menting, and deliberating to create this

one hour power-packed presentationwhich is largely based on music and thetheatre of images.

A team of seventy performers, designers,musicians, choreographers, stage craftspeople, sound and light experts have put intheir best to bring this brilliant creation onstage. The story begins from the 'TretaYug' and culminates at the present shrinewhere finally 'Bharon' was killed by MataVaishno Devi. The significance of each andevery step of Mata's journey to the presentshrine has been beautifully elaborated

through aesthetically designed composi-tions and dramatic sequences.

Balwant Thakur is known as a magicman in creating the visual imagery andthis presentation has added further to hisshining examples of his earlier visual spec-tacles. Speaking on the occasion he nar-rated few of his experiences of creatingthis challenging work. This is BalwantThakur's first creation on mythology andwith the limited resources at his com-mand, he has been able to make it a glit-tering world attraction.

GLDM College organisesKavi Sammelan

GM flags off Dulhasti Swachhta Rath

Dulhasti Swachhta Rath being flagged-off.

A scene from the play ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ being staged at Navratra Festival in Katra.

A resource person delivering a lacture on career selection.

Participants of Kavi Sammelan.

GDC Samba organises lecture onenhancing employability skill

Navratra Festival 2017

13th show of play ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ stagedSTATE TIMES NEWS

BHADARWAH: CommunistParty of India (CPI) onWednesday alleged that admin-istration instead of adopting ascientific approach to solve thebraid chopping mystery is shy-ing away from its responsibilityby imposing ban on the entry ofpoor labourers in DistrictDoda. Secretary CPI erstwhileDistrict Doda, Des RajManhas said this in a state-ment issued here while appeal-ing the District MagistrateDoda to revoke the Order No.DMD/17/728 dated September19, 2017, in which he had pro-hibited the entry of labourersbelonging to other States inDoda District.

While showing his concern onthe increasing number of braidchopping cases, which has cre-ated terror among the women,

Manhas said that imposing banon poor laborers will not solvethis problem instead a scientificapproach is needed to redressthe issue. "The doctors hasdiagnosed it as a psychiatricproblem and a kind of masshysteria, which usually occursin females of age group from 14to 44 years. This problem needto be investigated on scientificlines and people should be edu-cated that there is neitherghost, black magic nor any out-sider, who has created thisproblem," he maintained askingMinister for Health, BaliBhagat to depute specialists inpsychiatry to District and SubDistrict Hospitals of Doda.Thirty five cases of mysteriousbraid chopping have beenreported in District Doda,which has created panic andfear psychosis among people.

STATE TIMES NEWSR S PURA: Indian NationalTrust for Art and CulturalHeritage (INTACH) JammuChapter in collaboration withNew National HigherSecondary School, MiranSahib celebrated WorldTourism Day here onWednesday.

In this regard, a paintingcompetition was organised onthe theme 'SustainableTourism', in which around 40students from classes 6th to12th participated. Later, aninteractive session was held byS.M Sahni, Convener,INTACH- Jammu Chapteron heritage and tourism inwhich gifts were also distrib-uted to encourage students

who answered the questions. Also a class to class skit on

'Swachhta Hi Sewa' wasorganised by students of class-es 4th and 5th to enthusesense of cleanliness and per-sonal hygiene among stu-dents. Balkaran Singh,Principal of the school wel-comed Prof. Anita Billawaria,Dean, Faculty of SocialSciences, University ofJammu and Kuldeep Wahi,who were chief guest and spe-cial guest respectively.

Abhimaniyu Billawaria andSatwant Singh Rissam werealso present on the occasion. Aspecial 'Heritage AwarenessKit' was also presented toschool by INTACH team as atoken of appreciation.

INTACH Jammu Chapter celebrates World Tourism Day

Students displaying paintings at Tourism Day celebration.

STATE TIMES NEWSKATRA: The six day ofongoing Navratra Festivalwitnessed stunning per-formances by Bollywoodsingers Hashmit, Sultan andAkira at the last preliminaryround of devotional songscompetition held here lastevening.

In the last day of prelimi-nary rounds of the competi-tion, Dr. Shivankar Bhartifrom Jammu clinched firstposition and qualified direct-ly for Semi Final to be heldon September 28.

The second position wasshared by duo singersRashpal Singh and KirpalSingh from Punjab andSurinder from Jammu andthird position was held byRakesh Malhotra also fromJammu. All these alsostraightway qualified forquarter final to be held thisevening. In all 13 partici-pants performed in theround.

Meanwhile, the first winnerwas presented cash prize ofRs 10,000 , while second andthird runner ups were pre-sented Rs 5,000 and Rs3,000 along with gift ham-pers from Roots Herbals.

The Grand finale of the AllIndia Devotional SongCompetition will be held onSep 29 and the winner will beawarded with gold amount-ing to Rs. 3 Lakh and arecording contract withVenus Records and Tapes.The first and second runnersup will get gold worth Rs 1lakh and 50,000 respectively.

The Devotional SongCompetition was adjudgedby the panel of expertsincluding Bollywood SingerShankar Sahni- who on thepersistent demand of organ-izers extended his visit by oneday, Prof. Anupama Sharma,Lecturer Music Govt DegreeCollege Parade and V.KSambyal, former Director AllIndia Radio.

The event started with thelighting of traditional lampby the Bollywood singersShanker Sawhney, Hasmit,Sultana and Akira in pres-ence of Addl SP Katra, ChiefEducation Officer ReasiBishan Singh, Dy.SPsSubash Bhardwaj, JugalKishore Sharma, RakeshWazir President HotelAssociation Katra andChairman All IndiaDevotional Song

Committee,Yog AcharyaSwami Yoga Nand jiMaharaj, Shyam Lal Kesar,Shiv Kumar Sharma,Virender Kesar, Ajay Kotwaletc.

The proceedings were con-ducted by the Chairman ofthe Competition, RakeshWazir. He also informed thatfamous celebrity SingersDiljaan and Masha Ali linedup for guest performances atthe event on Sept 28.

NYK Poonch celebratesHindi Diwas

STATE TIMES NEWSPOONCH: Nehru YuvaKendra (NYK) Poonch cel-brated Hindi Diwas here onWednesday. Kamal Kumar,District DevelopmentOfficer, Iftekhar Hussain,Nodal Officer JKEDIPoonch, Wajahat Bukhari,Editor-in-Chief Pasmanzer,and Muzaffar AhmedKhawaja, Chief FunctionaryPublic Peace andDevelopment Foundation(NGO) Poonch briefed theparticipants on the impor-tance of Hindi. Mohd Shafiq,Programme CoordinatorNYKs, presented the vote ofthanks. Around 80 personsfrom National YouthVolunteers, Youth Club andMahila Mandal took part.

Revoke ban on outsiders, solvebraid cutting scientifically: CPI

Devotional song competition witnessesstunning performances on day 6

KVK Doda holds training for farmers STATE TIMES NEWS

DODA: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Doda on Wednesdayheld a daylong training programme on development of leader-ship traits for the farmers of Panchayat Panjgrain. The train-ing was held under the guidance of Directorate of ExtensionSKUAST-Jammu. The event was conducted by the team ofscientists from KVK Doda comprising Dr Narinder Paul, DrA.S Charak and Dr G.N Jha.

Dr Narinder Paul, Scientist KVK Doda acquainted the par-ticipants about role of farmers in extension services especiallyfarmer to farmer extension and farmer led extension forspeedy transfer of agriculture technology and proper reach ofinformation about technology and centrally sponsoredschemes to grass roots providing visible impact on the farm-ing of the Panchayat. Various group exercises for motivationof farmers in leadership development were also conducted bythe organisers.

The farmers were educated that awareness, capacity build-ing, credit and institutional linkages are very important torealize the target of doubling farmers' income, a nationalagenda of all the stakeholders connected with agricultureresearch extension and development. Farmers were also sensi-tized about different centrally sponsored schemes in agricul-ture.

Naseer Ahmad, ex-member Panchayat of the village laudedthe efforts of the KVK in organizing the programme and high-lighted the need for organizing such types of programmes forthe farmers in future also. Mukhtiar Ahmad, Mool Raj, MaanSingh, Adil Hussain, Farooq Ahmad, Mohammad Azim,Waseem Ahmad and many other farmers of the village attend-ed the programme. Programme ended with the vote of thanksby Dr G.N Jha Scientist KVK Doda.

STATE TIMES NEWSBHADARWAH: To persuadethe women folk of rural hamletsfor ensuring clean surround-ings, volunteers of UMEEDgroup on Wednesday joined theSwachhta Hi Sewa Campaignin presence of ChamakpreetKour, Block ProgrammeManager Bhadarwah.

More than 3 dozen volunteersof Self Help Group (SHG) ofUMEED project underJammu Kashmir State RuralLivelihood Mission (JKSRLM)gathered at Domail,Bhadarwah and took out a rallyto motivate rural women andhousewives not to limit cleanli-ness to their households only

but to spread it in their sur-roundings as well. The rallyculminated at historical GhataDramman where these volun-teers held a cleanliness drive atthe four ancient temples includ-ing Vasuki Nag, Bhadar Kali,Shetla Mata and Shiv Temple.Block Programme ManagerBhadarwah Chamakpreet

Kour said that women, espe-cially housewives can becomethe best ambassadors of cleanli-ness and hygiene.

She said that we had also car-ried out an anti-polythene cam-paign and we are mulling toparticipate in 'SwachhtaPakhwara' to be held from 1stto 15th of October.

UMEED volunteers join Swachhta Hi Sewa campaign

A cleanliness drive being conducted by UMEED.

STATE TIMES NEWSAKHNOOR: To promote thenoble cause of cleanlinessunder the ongoing 'SwachhtaHi Sewa', a painting compe-tition and a rally were con-ducted at Boys HigherSecondary School Akhnoorby PHE DepartmentAkhnoor.

MLA Akhnoor RajeevSharma was the Chief Guest.Students from differentschools took part in thepainting competition.

Rajeev encouraged the stu-dents to ensure cleanliness atplaces they visit besides theirsurroundings.

He said that cleanlinessprogrammes at differentplaces are being organised toconvey the message of clean-liness and make people awareabout the importance sanita-tion and hygiene.

Later, the gathering tookpledge to maintain cleanli-ness in their surroundings.

XEn PHE, XEnIrrigation, Principal BoysHigher Secondary SchoolAkhnoor Suraj SinghRathore, SHO PushpenderSingh, Bharat BhushanGupta, Deepu Singh, RakeshKhajuria and Adalat Khanwere also present.

Painting contest, rally heldunder Swachhta Hi Sewa

PHE Department Akhnoor presenting memento to MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma

STATE TIMES NEWSSUNDERBANI: SeekingCBI probe in the murdercase of class 10th studentHimanshu, who was killed 19days back, people ofNowshera and Seri onWednesday blocked theNational Highway for fourhours from 10 AM to 1 PMat TCP Bridge Nowshera.

Senior Congress leaderAdvocate Rajinder ParshadSharma joined the peopleand asked the authorities totransfer the case to CBI tobring to justice the culprits.Meanwhile, Sub District

Magistrate (SDM)Nowshera Abdal Stair,Assistant Superintendent ofPolice (ASP) Nowshera AtulSharma along with policeforce rushed to the spot andpacified the situation.

Subhash Kapoor (ExChairman MC), JagdishSawhney (President SanatanDharam Sabha), SarpanchSeri Balwant Singh,Sarpanch Deeing ChamanLal, Sarpanch JhangerParshotam Lal, Retd HMAshok Sharma, Shakti PalSingh and others were alsopresent.

Seeking CBI probe into student’smurder, people block highway

Police and district officials trying to pacify the protesters.

Seven injuredin mishap

STATE TIMES NEWSSAMBA: Seven people wereinjured in road mishap atJammu -Pathankot NationalHighway near SandbariGhagwal in district Samba onWednesday.

According to the report, atruck (JK02AS-9129) head-ing towards Kathua fromSamba hit an Innova car(JK02AP-7745) injuringseven occupants of the car. Theinjured were identified asRashmi Sharma, dauhter ofGirdhari Lal, Vibul Sharma,son of Girdhari Lal, RakeshKumar, son of Mohan Lal,Parshtom Kumar, son ofRomal Chand, Kanta Devi,wife of Girdhari Lal, GirdhariLal, son of Sansar Chand andSudgar Kumar, son of SansarChand, all residents ofAkhnoor Jammu.

SHO Ghagwal SI RajeshwarSingh reached the spot andshifted the injured people toTrauma Health CentreGhagwal where doctorsreferred all the injured peopleto Government MedicalCollege Hospital Jammu forfurther treatment.

In this regard Police hastaken cognizance of the matterand started investigation.