In Jammu and Kashmir, all the big and small temples are geared up for the nine-day Navratri celebrations beginning on Sunday. The Navratri festival will begin at the Katra town of Reasi district amid religious fervour and gaiety. All preparations for a smooth pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi have been made by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The festival will attract more tourists and promote religious and pilgrimage tourism in the region. All the major temples of the Jammu division including Bawe Wali Mata, Chichi Mata, Sukrala Mata Temple, Kol Kandoli, Chandi Mata Temple in Bhaderwah, and Padder Kishtwar were illuminated and decorated to welcome devotees during the festivals.<br />''  <br />'' Our correspondent reports that this year the Navratri festival will for the first time feature Karnataka's renowned 'Yakshagana' theatre presentation centred around Mata Vaishno Devi. Yakshagana will be showcased on the inaugural day, it is a form of dance-drama originating from south India and is closely associated with the state of Karnataka. Elaborate and colourful costumes, makeup and masks are among the most distinctive features of this art form. Several programmes have been lined up to celebrate the Navratri festival in Katra town of Reasi district. The annual Navratri festival is scheduled to start from October 15 and continue till October 23. The festival's inaugural event is planned to be held at Yog Ashram Ground in Katra, followed by a Shobha yatra and several events to showcase the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir and India as a whole. Congregational programmes like 'Prabhat Pheri', 'Mata ki Kahani' recitation, devotional song competition, Ram Leela and 'Dangalm' will be held during the nine-day festivities. Wrestling competitions and performances by specially-abled children and other cultural activities will also be held during the festival. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinah who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has issued directions to incorporate various forms of art and theatre from various parts of the country in the festival. The Navratri festival will see the strengthening of registration and the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) setup. The number of registration counters has been increased to 37 and the registration process will commence at 4 AM instead of 5 AM, ensuring pilgrims won't have to endure long queues. It will be regulated based on the Yatra track's carrying capacity.