Sonu Nigam & Anuradha Paudwa perform bhajans at Vaishno Devi shrine

Playback singers Anuradha Paudwal and Sonu Nigam performed bhajans as part of a special aarti at the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The program, organized by Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), will be held on Mahanavami, which marks the last day of the Navratri festival. Paudwal and Nigam arrived in Jammu on Sunday, Simrandeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SMVDSB, told PTI.

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Sufi singer-BJP MP from North West Delhi Hans Raj Hans, Gurdas Mann, Kavita Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula and Lakhwinder Wadali already performed at the shrine in the last week, Singh said. This Navratra, pilgrims caught the first glimpse of the gold-plated gate outside the cave. "It is meant to be a permanent feature. The work on this started three months ago. It was in the last phase of completion before Navratra and was dedicated to pilgrims," said Singh.

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"The gate will have Goddess Lakshmi on one side and prayers carved on the other. The upper portion will have Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman along others. The base of the gate will be made of silver, which will be plated with gold," he added. Around 11 kg of gold, 1,100 kg of silver and 1,200 kg of copper have been used to build the gate, which was formally dedicated to pilgrims on October 1.

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Over 3 lakh pilgrims visited Vaishno Devi during Navratra to pay obeisance, the officials said on Thursday. The cave shrine witnessed a footfall of over 40,000 pilgrims daily since the beginning of the festival from September 29, they said.

Nigam awarded: 

Popular Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam has been honoured with the Magnificent Performing Arts Award at the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London. Nigam was among a host of winners across a range of categories at a gala awards ceremony last week, devised as a celebration of dynamic entrepreneurs and successful individuals chosen from hundreds of nominations from around the world.  "I am truly humbled to be chosen for this award. The nominations were from 22 different countries and it means a lot to me that I was the one chosen for this honour," Nigam said in his acceptance speech ahead of the ceremony as he was engaged with his UK concert tour at the time.