Dehradun: Chaitra Navratri, bbeginningfrom March 22, will be celebrated this time as Nari Shakti Utsav (women power festival) across Uttarakhand.

Programs of Goddess worship will be set up during this time in each district. For this, the culture department has released Rs 1,00,000 to all the district magistrates.

Harichandra Semwal, secretary of the department of culture, said: "Nine different manifestations of Maa Durga will be worshipped with rituals on the auspicious festival of Chaitra Navratri. The Vedas and Puranas place a special emphasis on Chaitra Navratri. It has been regarded as the cornerstone of emancipation and self-purification. As Maa Durga is worshipped during Chaitra Navratri, negative energy is banished and positive energy fills the area."

Hence, in view of the widespread religious significance of Chaitra Navratras in the state of Uttarakhand, religious and cultural programs will be organized in all major Devi temples and Shaktipeeths in the state," he said. "On these auspicious Chaitra Navratri dates, the government is running a special campaign, keeping in mind the above objectives and public sentiments, on the occasion of Navratras, a symbol of the strength and power of mother power, in all the major Goddess Temples / Shakti Peethas of all the districts of the state, from March 22 to March 30.

"It has been agreed to hold Durga Saptami, Ramcharitmanas, Devi Gayan, Devi Jagran, and other lessons on this occasion. Navratri will now be observed as Nari Shakti Utsav. In particular, women and girls will take part in these programmes "he said.

The District Magistrates will form a committee at the district/development block level to organise this festival across the state, and the District Information Officer will work with them to connect the general public with the organisations and initiatives that promote cultural, religious, and public participation.

"It will be decided by the aforeswaid committee that in which Devi temples should be organized at the district/development block level," he said. The Culture Department has offered an amount of Rupees 1.00 lakh will be granted, and additional provisions will be guaranteed by the district administration at its own level, for the effective organisation of these programmes to be organised throughout the state.

UP-govt to hold Ramayana, Durga Saptshati recitations during Navratri