Uttar Pradesh government has decided to organise cultural programs at temples of goddess Durga and Shaktipeeths across the state during the Chaitra Navratri and Ramnavami which marks the birthday of Lord Rama. These cultural programs include recitation of Devi Durga mantras Jagran, Durga saptshati paath and Akhand Ramayan.<br />''<br />''The government has also made an arrangement of rupees 1 lakh for the cultural troops which will perform at these Grand religious programs. The culture department has issued directives to district magistrates across the state to organise religious and cultural programmes through the nine days of the "Chaitra Navratri" and Ram Navami festival that begins on March 22.<br />''<br />''In a nine-point directive, the state culture department instructed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates about the cultural programmes that should be organised. Officials have been directed to complete all the preparations by March 21 and share the GPS locations, addresses, photographs of the selected temples, and contact details of the temple management bodies. Two nodal officers have been appointed at the state level to coordinate between the different branches of the administration.<br />''<br />''During Chaitra Navaratri, the nine avatars of Durga are worshipped. The directive says that the recitation of Durga Shaptshati, Devi gaan, and Devi Jagran has to be organised at the temples and shaktipeeths and according to it, the government will run a special drive to ensure the participation of women and girls in these programmes.<br />''<br />''On March 29 and 30 – Ashtami and Ram Navami – the recitation of "Akhand Ramayan" and programmes to propagate human values, social values and national values will be organised at prominent shaktipeeths. The Department of Culture will allot Rs 1 lakh to each district administration to pay the honorarium to artists chosen to perform at the events. The district administrations will make other arrangements at their own level. The government has said that hoardings should be put up on temple premises to promote the work it has done to develop the shaktipeeths and temples.<br />