Jammu, Sept. 27 -- Authorities are gearing up to ensure adequate security and other arrangements for the upcoming Navratra festival at Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.

The festival is scheduled to take place from October 11 to 19 and is expected to attract a large number of devotees from various parts of the country. A series of religious, cultural, and traditional programs will be held throughout the nine-day festival.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, chaired a meeting at Katra on Friday to review festival arrangements.

During the meeting, officials discussed a comprehensive program of religious, ...