Latest news with #ShriMataVaishnoDeviShrineBoard
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shrine Board's archer to represent India at World University Games in Germany
Hritik Sharma, an archer being nurtured at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex at Katra is set to represent India at World University Games in Germany, said officials. Under the chairmanship of the lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the region's youth, said an official spokesperson. 'As part of this endeavour, the Shrine Board has taken a significant step to support budding sports talent Hritik Sharma, a promising archer from the SMVD sports complex, Katra by extending financial assistance amounting to ₹2.37 lakh to facilitate his participation in the World University Games at Germany,' he said. Sharma has been training at the sports complex since September-2020 and showcased his potential by winning accolades in the Khelo India University Games, 36th and 38th National Games, 19th NTPC Senior National Championship, North zone inter-university championship, J&K UT Archery Championship and 2nd NTPC national ranking archery tournament making him a promising prospect for future sporting excellence. Anshul Garg, chief executive officer, SMVDSB, said that the sponsorship highlights the board's dedication to fostering young talent and enabling athletes in the sports complex to shine globally. He also congratulated three para-archers from the sports complex - Rakesh Kumar, Sheetal Devi and Jyoti Baliyan who made the nation proud by winning four medals, including two gold and two bronze, at the recently concluded Para Archery World Ranking Tournament held in Rome. Their impressive performance contributed significantly to India's overall tally of eight medals in the tournament wherein, Rakesh won double Gold and Sheetal Devi won bronze along with Jyoti. Notably, the SMVD sports complex is currently training over 150 aspiring athletes across various sports disciplines, who have been consistently delivering promising results in national and international competitions. The SMVDSB Archery Academy, part of the complex, has earned the prestigious accreditation under the Khelo India programme by the ministry of youth affairs & sports, Government of India, in recognition of its excellence in promoting sports development and nurturing young talent.
Hans India
19-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
J&K L-G reconstitutes Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board
J&K Lt Governor (L-G), Manoj Sinha, on Monday reconstituted the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board by nominating nine new members. The L-G is the ex officio chairman of the board, and he is authorised to constitute the board that is empowered to carry on the affairs of the shrine. A notification approving the reconstitution of the board was issued by the Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The nine members include Sudha Murty, Mahamandaleshwar, Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Ashok Bhan, IPS (Retd.), Baleshwar Rai, IAS (Retd.), Gunjan Rana, K.K. Talwar, Kulbhushan Ahuja, Lalit Bhasin and Suresh Kumar Sharma. Over 1.50 crore devotees from different places of the country come each year to pay obeisance at the deity's shrine situated atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district of J&K. Katra town is the base camp town of the shrine. The management of the Yatra and the governance and administration of the Shrine are looked after by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, popularly called the Shrine Board. The Board was set up in August 1986 under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, 1988. The main objective of the Act was to provide for better management and governance of the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and its endowments, including the appurtenant lands and buildings. The Board comprises a chairman not not more than 10 members. Vaishno Devi (also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi) is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess. The deity is worshipped as a combined avatar of the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Prayers for peace held at Vaishno devi shrine
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) organised a hawan through sacred Vedic hymns at the holy shrine for invoking divine blessings for peace, harmony and well-being of the people of J&K and the entire nation. Board chief executive officer (CEO) Anshul Garg and other officers and staff participated in the hawan led by a group of pandits. The event held at the yagyashala near Atka area of the sanctum sanctorum was aimed at upholding the sanctity and traditional essence of the rituals while ensuring their alignment with established religious practices. On the occasion, the CEO highlighted that the shrine board has been consistently organising hawans, yagyas and other spiritual activities on significant occasions. He said that a large number of pilgrims are availing the facility of hawan and Nav Chandi Path at the new yagyashala on a routine basis. For convenience, devotees can book services online through the official website of the board. The CEO reviewed the operationalisation of the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), along with the sub-control centres on the yatra track focused on enhancing the pilgrim safety and strengthening the security grid.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Jammu and Kashmir: Security beefed up at Vaishno Devi Shrine
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, security has been beefed up at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. Reasi senior superintendent of police Paramvir Singh said, 'We have upped the security and we are on an alert. We are doing everything within available resources including random checking to ensure foolproof security.' According to an estimate, 11,000 ponywallas, palanquin owners and pithuwallas, ferry pilgrims to the cave shrine and back to Ban Ganga. While Katra sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Piyush Dhotra issued them registration cards, verification of their credentials was done by police and the staff of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. 'There are around 11,000 pithuwallas, ponywallas and palanquin owners. Their registration is done on yearly basis after we get clearance from the CID, who check their credentials and conduct a thorough verification,' said the SDM. He informed that wherever CID finds adverse reports against the applicant, the application is outrightly rejected. 'Apart from a tough verification process, there is a robust mechanism in place on the tracks. The shrine board staff along with police and CRPF ensure proper security and regulate the pilgrimage. All due care is taken,' he said. On an average, 30,000 to 35,000 pilgrims visit the cave shrine during lean days and the footfall goes up to 45,000 to 50,000 pilgrims during Navratri festival. The shrine board has installed CCTV cameras on vantage points along the tracks and at Bhawan. The security is being looked after by CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Two pony service operators booked Meanwhile, in a crackdown against unauthorised service providers and impersonators on the Vaishno Devi track, Reasi police on Thursday registered two separate FIRs under relevant sections against two men, who were fraudulently operating as pony service providers. During routine patrolling near Geeta Mata Mandir, Bathing Ghat-2, a man claiming to be Puran Singh was stopped by the police and asked to produce his authorised pony service license. 'On verification, the photograph on the card did not match the individual. Upon further scrutiny, his Aadhaar card revealed his true identity as Manir Hussain, son of Mohammad Musa of Jhandi in Thakrakote tehsil of Reasi district. The impersonator was found to be misusing someone else's authorised card to illegally operate on the Vaishno Devi track,' said a police officer. Accordingly, FIR number 111/2025 under sections 319/223 of the BNS was registered at Katra police station and investigations taken up. In another incident near Ban Ganga bridge, a person identified as Sahil Khan, son of Shah Mohammad of Kotli in Akhnoor was found operating a pony (mule) without any valid authorisation. 'Upon inquiry, he admitted to having no registered pony card in his name, thus violating SDM orders and operating unlawfully. In this regard, FIR number 112/2025 under section 223 of BNS was registered against him at Katra police station,' police added. He said that strict surveillance, patrolling and verification drives will continue to prevent such unlawful and potentially dangerous activities to pre-empt any sabotage. 'We urge all service providers to carry vaild authorisation cards and also call upon pilgrims and locals to report any suspicious activity they observe, to the nearest police personnel,' he added.
