Pilgrimage up by 12 lakh Vaishno Devi shrine

Holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji is witnessing heavy rush of pilgrims during the Navratras. Total pilgrimage during first nine months of this year, which concluded today, have recorded an increase of nearly 12 lakh over the corresponding period last year indicating that yatra to the shrine was all set to touch or even surpass the figure of 1 crore for the first time.

Last year, 87.2 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi, located between Trikuta hills at a height of 5200 feet from the sea level. With 12 lakh increase during first three quarters, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) authorities were confident that the yatra would cross 10 million mark for the first time in the history.

Though the SMVDSB authorities were anticipating a substantive increase in the pilgrimage in last quarter of the yatra over the same period last year, the yatra would touch 1 crore even if it remained at par in last three months as it has already gone up by nearly 12 lakh.

SMVDSB Additional CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior that 77.75 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi during first nine months of 2011 as compared to 65.80 lakh yatra in the same period in 2010, recording an increase of 11.95 lakh.

During the month of September, 8.25 lakh yatris visited the holy cave shrine as compared to 6.20 lakh last year, an increase of 2.05 lakh.

During first Navratra, 45,000 devotees offered prayers to Goddess Vaishno Devi as compared to 36,900 last year. On second Navratra, number of the pilgrims stood at 40,047 as against 38,800 in 2010 while on third Navratra today, nearly 35,000 people left holy town of Katra, the base camp of the shrine, for Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The figure was 31,300 last year, Dr Bhandari said.

Authorities were expecting heavy rush to the cave shrine during remaining Navratras in view of ongoing Navratra festival during which many functions were being organized daily.

Last year, highest number of 87.2 lakh yatris had visited the cave shrine. With nearly 12 lakh increase in the pilgrimage till September this year, the authorities hoped that remaining three months of 2011 would also lead to a substantial increase in the yatra, taking pilgrimage well beyond the magic mark of 10 million for the first time.

During the current year, 4.21 lakh yatris visited holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi in January as compared to 3.99 lakh in the same month last year while the number came down to 3.69 lakh in February in response to 3.77 lakh in 2010. The pilgrimage jumped to 7.55 lakh in March up from 7.22 lakh last year.

In April, 9.77 lakh yatris paid obeisance to the Goddess while the number was 8.78 lakh last year while in May, 8.70 lakh people visited the shrine as compared to 9.14 lakh last year. The highest ever yatra in a month was recorded in June with 11.50 lakh yatris visiting the shrine as compared to 9.19 lakh last year. In July also, the pilgrimage crossed 11 lakh recording 11.27 lakh yatra while the number was 8.40 lakh last year. In August, 10.05 pilgrims visited the shrine as against 7.91 lakh last year.

Police parties led by SP Katra Mohan Lal and SDPO Katra P N Tickoo were supervising security arrangements for the pilgrims. Tight security arrangements have been made for the Navratras.