Over 45k pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi in 8 days, helicopter services resumes

JAMMU — Amidst escalated tension between India and Pakistan, more than 45,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine nestled in Trikuta Hills of Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials here on Wednesday said that the border tension between India and Pakistan has impacted the pilgrimage, that declined drastically in this period.

Sharing figures, he said, “In one week between May 6 to May 13, 45,430 pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine.”

He said on May 6, altogether 12917 pilgrims visited the cave shrine and on May 7, 12760 while on May 8, 8670 pilgrims, on May 9, 3962 pilgrims, on May 10, 1352 pilgrims, on May 11, 1303 pilgrims, on May 12, 168 pilgrims and on May 13, 2808 pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine.

They said that many pilgrims had cancelled their tickets but when both the countries on May 11, announced the ceasefire, the pilgrims re-booked their journey to Katra.

Expressing faith in the Government of India and the Armed Forces, the devotees at Katra, have appealed to all across the country to visit the Bhawan to seek the blessings of “Maa Bhagwati”.

Meanwhile, the helicopter service to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has also resumed on Wednesday after being suspended for a week due to the military standoff between India and Pakistan and the battery car service is also operational, officials said.

“We have also offered the pilgrims free of cost attendance in ‘aarti’,” they said.

More than 3.5 lakh pilgrims during the navratras period in April and more than 25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance till mid-April at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine this year.