Panchkula: Over 43,000 devotees offered cash donations amounting to ₹21.8 lakh across three major temples in Panchkula district on the fifth day of the Ashwin Navratri fair.According to Satpal Sharma, deputy commissioner and chief administrator of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, the temple recorded 33,000 visitors and received ₹17.6 lakh in cash along with nine silver items. The Shri Kali Mata Temple in Kalka saw 9,000 devotees and ₹3.1 lakh in offerings along with one silver item, while the Chandi Mata Temple recorded 1,800 visitors and ₹1.1 lakh in donations.Alongside daily darshan and Ram Katha recitations within temple premises, cultural performances are scheduled every evening at 7pm. Artistes set to perform include Ramesh Chadha (Sweety Chadha) on Oct 16, Vijay Garg on Oct 17, Deshbandhu on Oct 18, and Suresh Kumar on Oct 19.Meanwhile, a nine-day Ras Garba and Dandiya Mahotsav is underway in Sector 5, featuring participation from local families, youth, BJP district president Ajay Mittal, and members of the Nepali Sabha. Organisers stated that the event offers free entry and aims to connect youth with tradition while steering them away from drugs under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’.
