JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
As the examination season draws to a close after the festival of Holi, the number of pilgrims visiting the sacred Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on the Trikuta Mountains has begun to increase rapidly. These days, there is a huge footfall of devotees from the holy town of Katra to Bhawan, and the entire route is echoing with chants of Mata’s name.
Until the past three to four days ago, approximately 15,000 to 18,000 pilgrims were arriving in Katra daily, but now this figure has increased to between 20,000 and 25,000. In view of the increasing number of pilgrims, preparations have been intensified for the upcoming Chaitra Navratri. This year, the Chaitra Navratri, which begins on March 19th, is expected to bring even more crowds to the pilgrimage.
In view of the increasing influx of pilgrims, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the district administration have initiated extensive arrangements for security, medical care, drinking water, food, and other essential amenities. Sanitation, medical aid, and security arrangements have been further strengthened along the pilgrimage route from Katra to Bhawan to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience.
Currently, the flow of pilgrims from Katra to Bhawan remains constant. After paying obeisance to the Mata, devotees traditionally complete their pilgrimage by paying obeisance at the Baba Bhairavnath Temple.
The weather remained normal on Sunday, ensuring the pilgrimage continued smoothly. During the pilgrimage, pilgrims are provided with helicopter services, battery cars, ropeways, as well as horse-drawn carriages, mules, and palanquins, which are being availed by a large number of pilgrims.
According to statistics, 23,500 pilgrims visited Mata Vaishno Devi on March 6th, while this number increased to 25,600 on March 7th. By 5 p.m. on Sunday, approximately 16,000 devotees had registered and headed for the temple. The administration expects the number of devotees to increase further in the coming days.
