JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
The movement of clouds, drizzle, and the chants of devotees created a wonderful spiritual atmosphere in the valleys of the Trikuta Mountains on Saturday. Despite the change in weather, the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra continued smoothly, with thousands of devotees making their way to the shrine to seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess. The enthusiasm of the devotees was palpable amid the pleasant weather. The relief from the heat also led to a significant increase in the number of devotees on the pilgrimage route.
Dense clouds hovered around Katra and the Trikuta Mountains since morning. Light rain and cool breezes made the weather pleasant. Many devotees spent some time in sheds and resting places along the route during the rain, but this challenging weather did not affect their faith. Devotees, accompanied by their families and friends, continued their journey towards the shrine, chanting Mata’s praises.
The bad weather certainly affected helicopter services. Due to safety concerns, helicopter flights were temporarily suspended until noon. However, after the weather improved, services were resumed. Sunshine in the afternoon brought additional relief to pilgrims, while cool breezes kept the atmosphere pleasant throughout the day.
The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is witnessing a steady increase these days. Between 38,000 and 43,000 pilgrims arrive at the base camp in Katra daily. Due to the increasing crowds, Katra town, markets, hotel complexes, and the pilgrimage route remained vibrant throughout the day. The entire region was engulfed in a religious festive atmosphere.
Pilgrims registered at the Yatra registration centers and received their RFID Yatra cards and then proceeded to the Bhawan. Officers and personnel from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, police, CRPF, and disaster management teams were deployed along the Yatra route to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims. Necessary safety guidelines were also provided to pilgrims at various locations.
According to statistics, 40,300 devotees paid obeisance at the feet of Maa Vaishno Devi on May 29th. By 4 pm on Saturday, approximately 29,000 devotees had registered and set out on the pilgrimage. The influx of devotees continued until late evening, raising the possibility of a further increase in the pilgrimage.
Even amidst rain, clouds, and changing weather, the faith of the devotees remained unwavering. Overcoming every challenge of the weather, the devotees continued to move towards the Mata’s court, and chants of “Jai Mata Di” echoed throughout the route. This scene once again proves that the faith of the devotees in Maa Vaishno Devi remains unwavering under all circumstances.
