Devotees are turning up in massive numbers at the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi located in the Trikuta hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir during the Shardiya Navratri festival. Pilgrims from various parts of the nation are arriving in Katra to head towards the shrine, with more than 3.81 lakh devotees having already visited the sacred cave from October 11 until Monday 2 PM.
According to officials, the atmosphere in Katra is thoroughly celebratory throughout the festive duration. Favorable weather conditions have ensured that the pilgrimage continues smoothly without any disruptions. The entire stretch from the shrine to the trekking route and Katra town has been decorated with vibrant flowers and colorful lights. Large crowds of devotees are moving towards the sanctum while chanting praises of the goddess, and numbers are expected to surge further around Dussehra.
During the first eight days of Navratri, 3.62 lakh pilgrims offered their prayers at the shrine. The influx of devotees continued unabated from early Monday morning, with over 20,000 pilgrims departing towards the Bhavan by afternoon.
Looking closely at the daily statistics, 47,574 devotees visited the shrine on October 11, while the number rose to 48,400 on October 12. Subsequently, 46,558 pilgrims arrived on October 13 and 41,961 on October 14.
On October 15, a total of 39,951 devotees offered prayers, followed by 41,750 pilgrims reaching the Bhavan on October 16. On October 17, as many as 48,500 devotees bowed before the deity, while 47,700 pilgrims registered for the journey on October 18.
Religious ceremonies are also actively underway within the temple premises during the festival. A nine-day Shatchandi Mahayagya is being organized at the yagashala alongside special prayers and Vedic rituals, with Monday marking the ninth day of the grand ritual.
The surroundings near the shrine maintain a deeply devotional ambiance combined with festive decorations. Pilgrims are actively participating in these religious events alongside their regular visits. The continuous movement of crowds remains steady due to the overlapping festive rush.
To manage the massive gathering securely, stringent security measures have been deployed across the route. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has also arranged special facilities specifically for differently-abled pilgrims. These include complimentary horse services, battery-operated transport options, priority darshan, and dedicated assistance booths.
Additionally, adequate drinking water points, sanitation services, and medical aid camps have been established along the path to provide immediate assistance whenever required.
Alongside Vaishno Devi, the renowned Kali temple in Jammu, commonly known as Bave Wali Mata temple, also witnessed an immense gathering of devotees. According to officials, over two lakh pilgrims offered prayers at this temple on Monday.
Prominent figures including Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma, along with Punjabi actress Preeti Sapru, visited the temple to seek blessings. The heavy turnout across major temples in the region has maintained a vibrant festive atmosphere.
