Jammu, Jun 5 : More than 38 lakh pilgrims have visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine, located in the Trikuta Hills of Katra town in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, breaking a previous record this year.According to official sources, there is currently a great rush in Katra town because to summer vacations, and pilgrims are departing for the Bhawan to pay respects at the cave shrine.
“An official spokesperson reported that in the first five months of current year, 38.47 lakh (38,47,584) visitors have already visited the cave sanctuary.
According to him, the number is larger when compared to the year 2022, when 34,67,222 pilgrims went to the cave shrine.The official revealed the specifics, stating that 5,24,189 pilgrims visited the Bhawan in January, 4,14,432 in February, 8,94,650 in March, 10,18,540 in April, and 9,95,773 in May to make prayers.
Every day, between 35,000 and 40,000 pilgrims arrive in Katra amid chanting of “Jai Mata Di.”
Anshul Garg, chief executive officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, stated that every year, a large number of pilgrims are anticipated to visit the shrine, for which preparations are being made.
According to Garg, 35,000 to 40,000 pilgrims arrive in Katra every day during the week, and the number increases on weekends.The CEO continued by saying that the Shrine Board is prepared with foolproof steps to guarantee the best pilgrimage experience to the visiting devotees as the Holy Shrine, which is located in Trikuta Hills of Katra town in Reasi, is expected to see a surge of devotees over the coming few months.
“On numerous fronts, steps are being done to ensure a trouble-free journey in the coming days, he added. This include distributing and validating RFID cards, managing crowds effectively, expanding holding places on the track and in Katra Town, and developing strategies to clear the entire track of congestion, especially in the Bhawan region and separating entry and departure ways there. Garg added that for ongoing surveillance, a separate CCTV network with more than 700 cameras is needed.
From June 2 to July 30, the Northern Railways has also begun operating three special trains from New Delhi to Katra.
According to official government sources, “three summer special trains have started operating from New Delhi to Jammu to Katra to cater to the rush of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims.”
