DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2015 (PAGE 3)

Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannathtaken out with religious fervour

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 18: A color-ful and mesmerizing RathYatra of Lord Jagannath wastaken out here today from MAStadium with religious fervoramid tight security. The Yatraafter passing through variousparts of the city culminated atShiv Temple near main TawiBridge.

The Yatra was flagged offby State BJP vice-presidentand MLA Jammu West, SatSharma and organized byShree Jagannath Rath YatraSanstha, Jammu.

Thousands of devoteesincluding men, women andchildren from different walksof life participated in the Yatraand chanted names of the LordJagannath. The Rath Yatrastarted with magnanimouswelcome of Lordships Shree

Shree Jagannath, Balabhadraand Subhadra Devi placed onthe chariot decorated withflowers.

The devotees, enroutewere dancing and recitingBhajans in praise of LordJagannath. Sweets, water andfruits were also served to thedevotees who participated inYatra. There was virtually amad rush of the devotees atevery point of the city to havea glimpse of the LordJagannath. After passingthrough various parts of theCity of Temples, the RathaYatra finally culminated in theevening at Shiv Temple nearmain Tawi Bridge, where amass Bhandara was organizedfor the devotees.

Earlier, while flagging offthe Yatra, Sat Sharma (CA)said that Lord Jagannath RathYatra is an essential part ofthe ritual of the Hindu systemof worship and being uniqueamong all Yatras, it is thegrandest festival of thesupreme divinity.

He said that the presenceof thousands of people showstheir devotion which has cre-ated a beautiful atmosphere inthe city. He said earlier theYatra was taken out inJagannath Puri, Odisha butnow almost every part of thecountry observes it and theYatra is taken out everywhere.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 18: Like otherparts of the country Eid-ul-Fitrmarking the culmination of fastingmonth of Ramdhan was celebratedwith religious fervor and gaietyacross the Jammu region today.

All the mosques were fully

decorated and markets witnessedhuge rush of people purchasingsweets, gifts, clothes and exchang-ing Eid greetings with each other.There was huge rush of people incity ,mosques and Eidgah to offerEid prayers this morning.

The biggest religious congrega-tion held at Eidgah ResidencyRoad where thousands of Muslimsoffered Eid-ul-Fitr Nimaz.

The members of Muslim com-munity attired in white dress wereseen from the morning exchangingEid greetings to each other andmembers of other communities.The children were busy in gettingEidi from their elders.

Though all ministers celebratedEid in Kashmir Valley, PradeshCongress Committee (PCC) chiefGhulam Ahmed Mir offered Eidprayers here at Malik MarketNarwal. He also extended Eidgreetings to the people on the occa-sion.

Later talking to media Mir said``Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the cul-mination of holy month of Ramzanteaches us self control which in turnmakes us good human beings''. Hesaid ``let us pray that this festivalbrings the State out of present messso that its old glory is restored andpeople live in complete peace andharmony''.

The Muslims also exchangedwishes, sweets and gifts with peo-ple from all walks of life on theoccasion.

Elaborate arrangements weremade by the administration for cel-ebration of Eid-ul-Fitr festivalacross the Jammu division.

Meanwhile the reports of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations also pouredfrom different parts of the Region.In Ramban district, all the mosqueswere fully decorated suiting theoccasion and markets witnessedfestive look. The main congrega-tion took place at Jamia MasjidSharif where thousands of devotees

performed Nimaz-e-Eid. The EidNamaz was also offered at variousmosques of the town and its out-skirts including, Chandrog, Maitraand Upper Ramban and Muslimsprayed for peace, development andprosperity of the people of Stateand nation.

The SSP, Ramban Randeep

Kumar along with officers of dis-trict administration felicitated theMuslim brethren and exchangesEid greetings.

Eid was also celebrated atRajouri, Poonch, Mendhar,Koteranka, Budhal, Dharhal,Thanamandi, Manjakote,Surankote, Mendhar, Kalakote,Reasi, Gool Arnas, Kathua, Bani,Billawar and Basohli, Udhampurand Banihal , Doda, Kishtwar andBhadarwah today.

In Mendhar Eid prayers wereoffered at Jama Masjid Mendhar,Jama Masjid Harni, Dar-u-Alhoom, Mehmoodia, QasimNagar, Mendhar and Imambargah,Sangla Chowk, Mendhar.

The biggest congregation wasseen at Eidgah Rajouri, Poonch,Doda, Kishtwar and Banihal wherethousands of Muslims offered Eidprayers.

Meanwhile Minister forIndustries and Commerce,Chander Parkash Ganga today vis-ited several Idgahs in Samba dis-trict and extended Eid-ul-Fitr greet-ings to Muslim brethren.

The Minister, while exchang-ing warm greetings with theMuslims at Sarore Adda, TaileBasti, Barjani, Shah Talab, BadoriIdgahs and other mosquesexpressed optimism that the daywould further cement the bondsof love and amity among the peo-

ple of all faiths. He said that suchpious occasions provide us anopportunity to introspect and pureour thoughts and deeds enablingus create a better world to live in.

MLA Jammu East, RajeshGupta, Divisional CommissionerJammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal,Deputy Commissioner, Jammu,

Simrandeep Singh, other seniorfunctionaries of civil and policeadministration were also presenton the occasion and exchangedEid-ul Fitr greetings with Muslimbrethren at Eidgah Jammu andprayed for peace and tranquility inthe State. They said that such reli-gious occasions help in cementingthe bonds of love and brotherhoodamong different sections of thesociety.

Ganga, PCC chief, others extend Eid greetingsEid-ul-Fitr celebrated with religious fervor across Jammu region

Excelsior Correspondent

DODA, July 18: Within threedays of launching of Skill IndiaDevelopment Programme byPrime Minister, Narendra Modi inUnion Capital on July 15, Dodabecame the first district in J&Kwhere Skill Development pro-gramme was launched by UnionMinister in PMO with independ-ent charge of North EasternStates, Dr Jitendra Singh in col-laboration with voluntary groupand skill development agencytoday.

Earlier Udhampur hadbecome the first district in J&Kwhere Digital India programmewas launched by Dr JitendraSingh within three days of itslaunch by Prime Minister in NewDelhi.

Minister of State for R&B andRevenue, Sunil Sharma, BJPMLAs from Doda andBhadarwah Assembly segments,Shakti Parihar and Dilip Pariharand DC Doda, Dheeraj Kumarbesides the representatives of thevoluntary group and SkillDevelopment Agency attendedthe programme.

Speaking on the occasion, DrJitendra Singh, said that in theemerging scenario on the onehand unemployment is rapidly onthe rise and on the other hand afterattaining high degrees the youthare unable to find a job hence skilltraining is essential to enable ayouth to find a job. TermingNarendra Modi a visionary PrimeMinister, he said the launch ofSkill Development Progamme is avery good initiative taken by himas Government can't provide jobto every one. He said the Dodabecame the first district in the

State to have this new initiative. Dr Singh said the first phase

of programme will involve certi-fied training in land surveysbecause this is the area for whichyoung experts are sought by com-panies to work in Hydraulic andother projects. Instead of involv-ing youth from the other parts ofthe country, the multinationalcompanies will have an opportu-nity to find local youth for thesejobs, he added.

Dr Singh said this will notonly generate employment forlocal youth at their home districtbut will also introduce the youthto the other parts of the country.The cost of training will be borneentirely by agency which has

undertaken the training pro-gramme, he added.

He said the training willinvolve one month of preliminarycourse in Hyderabad, AP whichwill be followed by three to sixmonths training in the same sub-ject. The entire boarding andlodging will also be borne bytraining agency, he added.

Dr Singh said that after thecompletion of the course theskilled youth will not only be able

to work in various projects inerstwhile Doda district but insimilar projects in other parts ofthe country. These youth will beable to deal with various otherinstruments involved in satellitemapping, he added.

``We will soon involveDepartment of Space TechnologyGovernment of India (GoI) tosupplement this training coursebecause it involves land mappingby using latest satellite technolo-gy'', he said, adding ``the supportwill also be solicited by UnionMinistry of Skill Developmentfor which I have already taken upthe issue with Rajiv Partap Rudy,Union Minister of State withindependent charge of SkillDevelopment''.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that asan MP from Kathua-Doda LokSabha Constituency which hassix districts, it has been hisendeavour to start such venturesin each of the district. Elaboratinghe said the Bio TechnologicalPark and Inter State bridge inKathua, first introduction of digi-talization in governance in dis-trict administration at Udhampurwhich became first district tohave introduced digitalizationunder the digitalization pro-gramme.

He said likewise Reasibecame first district to haveweather forecasting system atSanji Chhat Katra while Basohliin Kathua district took the lead inthe State to introduce ArogyaGram Yojna for cultivation ofMedicinal plants. On the sameline Doda will become first dis-trict in the State where the SkillDevelopment programme waslaunched, he added.

Dr Singh said this programmereceived wide response with largenumber of youth thronging thevenue to get enrolled for the train-ing.

Dr Singh also assured that thefirst phase of training programmewill take place at an earliest. Theprogramme was coordinated byKuldeep Singh BJP leader.

Dr Jitendra Singh launches Skill Development Programme in Doda

Muslims offering Eid prayers at Eidgah Jammu on Saturday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh addressing a public gathering after launching SkillDevelopment Programme at Doda on Saturday.

Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath being taken out in Jammu onSaturday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, July 18: A meeting ofthe Airport AdvisoryCommittee was held hereunder the chairmanship ofMember Parliament, ThupstanChewang.

Besides, Members of theAirport Advisory Committeethe meeting was also attendedby the former Minister andMLA, Leh, Nawang RigzinJora.

Several issues related to thesecurity, welfare of passengersand expansion of Airport werediscussed in detail. The meet-ing was informed that passen-ger traffic handled at LehAirport during the year 2014-15 was around 4 lakh which is

approximately 15 per centincrease as compared to theprevious year. It was furtherinformed that in view of theincreased influx of traffic, anew terminal building isrequired.

The point of land transferfrom IAF to AAI was the issueof main focus for which boththe authorities consented fortransfer of land for expandingthe facilities.

AAC discusses expansion of Leh airport