Jammu, March 22 – A large number of pilgrims arrived at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine base camp, Katra, in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, and they are now proceeding towards the shrine as the Navratri festival gains momentum.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said on Sunday that a massive influx of devotees is being witnessed at Katra, the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, as over 30,000 pilgrims have departed for their journey to the holy cave.
This surge in footfall coincides with the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival, drawing thousands of devotees from across the country to seek the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi.
Despite the heavy influx, the pilgrimage is proceeding in an orderly manner. Authorities are maintaining strict control over the crowds and ensuring that all essential facilities are available for the pilgrims.
Devotees are praising the overall arrangements in the area, noting that the signage and informative displays have been relatively improved.
Earlier, registration for the yatra resumed at 4 a.m. on Sunday, following a temporary suspension on Saturday evening. The registration process was halted nearly four hours before its scheduled 10 p.m. closure due to the overwhelming influx of devotees at Katra.
Despite this brief suspension, the pilgrimage continued smoothly throughout the night.
Officials reported that nearly 1 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the sacred cave shrine since the commencement of Navratri, reflecting a period of intense spiritual fervor.
To manage the high volume, authorities have implemented robust crowd control measures and necessary arrangements to ensure a safe and orderly experience for all pilgrims.
The shrine, located at the top of the Trikuta Hills, attracts over 1 crore pilgrims each year, and the SMVDSB has been efficiently managing the affairs of the shrine under the supervision and guidance of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, who heads the shrine board.