Huge Rush of Devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
Shrine Sees Smooth Yatra With Enhanced Security and Pilgrim Facilities
Katra (Reasi), Sep 24: The sacred cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi has welcomed over 32,000 devotees since the onset of Navratri on Monday, officials said. Daily, around 12,000 to 13,000 pilgrims are offering their prayers, with the Shrine Board ensuring smooth management of the 13-km yatra route.
For this year’s Navratri celebrations, the shrine has been beautifully decorated with flowers and lights, while a multi-tier security grid comprising police, CRPF, paramilitary forces, and quick-response teams has been deployed to maintain order. Wireless communication sets have also been introduced to enhance coordination along the route.
The Board has set up drinking water points, medical aid stations, and crowd management measures to ensure a safe and comfortable pilgrimage experience for visitors arriving from across India. Volunteers have been stationed along the route to guide devotees and facilitate smooth movement.
The pilgrimage resumed on September 17 after a 22-day suspension caused by a landslide on August 26, which resulted in 34 deaths and 20 injuries. Navratri celebrations at the shrine will continue until October 1.
