Panchkula, September 28- The famous Navratra Mela began at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine complex, Panchkula, near here today with religious fervor and thousands of devotees thronged the shrine on the first day of the Aswin Navratras to seek blessings of the Goddess. Mrs Asha Hooda, Vice President of Haryana Council for Child Welfare, was among the first few to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine complex today.
Mrs Asha Hooda, who is wife of Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda also participated in the Ghat Sthapna ceremony organized by the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board and performed Yajna.
Later, while interacting with the media persons Mrs. Hooda said that she prayed for the prosperity of the people of the State and the country. She said that during Navratras devotees from different parts of the country came here to take blessings of the Goddess.
She also urged the people not to discriminate between the boy and the girl and celebrate the birth of female child with the same enthusiasm as they do on the birth of a male child. She said that the girl should be given proper education and other opportunities at par with the males so that they could become self reliant. She further made an appeal to the people to infuse cultural values in the girls so that they could contribute in building an ideal society and the nation. She said that girls were also a form of goddess therefore, efforts should be made to curb the evil of female feticide as it was a stigma on our society.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula Mrs. Ashima Brar who is also the President of Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board said that elaborate arrangements have been made to provide adequate facilities to the devotees during Navratras. Adequate number of Police personnel have been deputed to maintain law and order situation in and around the temple complex. CCTV cameras have been installed at various places to keep an eye on the anti-social elements. Special bus service has also been arranged for the convenience of the devotees.
On this occasion, MLA Panchkula Mr. Devender Kumar Bansal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula Mr. Jagdeep Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate(Civil) Mrs Sharandeep Kaur Brar, City Magistrate Mrs. Vandana Disodhiya, Chief Executive Officer of Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board Mr. D.P. Datana were also present.