President inaugurates Spiritual Growth Centre at Katra

KATRA: Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, inaugurated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre amidst chanting of Vedic Mantras at Katra today in presence of Mr. N. N. Vohra, Jammu and Kashmir Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
The President visited various sections of the Complex and evinced keen interest in the facilities created at this Centre, which include a Library, Souvenir Shop, a modern air-conditioned Auditorium, Exhibition Hall, Conference Hall, Training and Development Section, Meditation and Prayer Halls and other facilities. She interacted with the participants of the ongoing programmes being run for imparting Disaster Management Training for the officials of the Shrine Board and upgrading of skills training being run by the Food Craft Training Institute for the catering and hotel employees of Katra and adjoining areas.
The Governor, while briefing the President about the salient features and facilities at the Spiritual Growth Centre, said that this Centre had been built by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board with a view to provide health outlets and opportunities to the local population and the pilgrims visiting the Shrine.
The President walked up to the invitees present on the occasion, interacted with them and observed that she had had a very good Darshan at the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji earlier in the day and appreciated the Shrine Board’s initiative to set up the Spiritual Growth Centre.
The Spiritual Growth Centre comprises an Auditorium with a seating capacity of 460 persons, a Library, an Amphitheatre, Exhibition and Display Halls, Audio-Visual Room, Conference Halls, Meditation Hall, Prayer Hall, Art and Craft Exhibition Areas, Prayer Rooms, Food Station, Guest Rooms and Dormitories.
Among those present on the occasion were Mr. Amrit Malhotra, Chairman, State Legislative Council, Mr. R. S. Chib, Minister in Waiting to the President, Ch. Lal Singh, Member of Parliament, Mr. Baldev Raj Shama, MLA Reasi, Mr. Jugal Kishore Sharma and Mr. Jagjivan Lal, former Ministers, Mr. Madhav Lal, Chief Secretary, Mr. Kuldeep Khoda, Director General of Police, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor of the Jammu Central University and Member of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Prof. R. N. K. Bamezai, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Mr. R. K. Goyal Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO, Mr. S. M. Sahni, Director, Spiritual Growth Centre, Mr. H. L. Maini, Technical Consultant to the Shrine Board, senior officers, social and political leaders and prominent citizens.