Katra, October 1:
So far, more than 1.70 lakh devotees have visited the Mata Vaishno Devi temple during Navratri. Chants of “Jai Mata Di” and hymns echo from the Mata Vaishno Devi base camp in Katra to the Mother’s court. The flow of devotees continues unabated. The number of devotees has increased over the past three days.
Navratri, which runs from September 22nd to Wednesday, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. It holds special significance at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, which receives the largest number of devotees during this time. Officials say the number of devotees is increasing with each passing day.
“More than 1.70 lakh devotees have already visited the holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi. The pilgrimage is going on smoothly. The number of pilgrims is increasing with each passing day,” Sachin Kumar Vaish, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, told reporters at the temple premises. He urged pilgrims to visit the temple in large numbers.
Vaishya said the Shrine Board has made extensive arrangements for Sharadiya Navratri to ensure a comfortable journey for devotees. The Board has also deployed volunteers to guide pilgrims, manage the expected crowds, and ensure smooth movement along the 13-kilometer-long pilgrimage route.
