KATRA: The pilgrimage to the revered cave shrine of Vaishno Devi Temple was temporarily suspended on Saturday following an overwhelming surge of devotees during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri.
Officials said the yatra was halted around 4 pm due to heavy congestion at the Bhawan area, where over 39,000 pilgrims had already offered prayers by late afternoon. The footfall has risen sharply since the beginning of Navratri on March 19, with thousands more devotees expected in the coming days.
“The yatra has been suspended temporarily due to heavy rush at Bhawan,” a shrine board official said, adding that announcements were made through police vehicles advising pilgrims to return to their accommodations.
Fresh registration for the pilgrimage will resume at 4 am on Sunday, officials said.
Despite the suspension, more than 10,000 registered pilgrims were still en route to the shrine, located atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district. Devotees were seen chanting “Jai Mata Di” as they made their way along the track to seek blessings.
Authorities have implemented multi-tier security arrangements at Katra and along the pilgrimage route to ensure safety amid the massive turnout.
Meanwhile, the sacred Shat Chandi Maha Yagya, which began earlier this week, continues at the shrine, marking the spiritual significance of the Navratri festival. Officials said extensive arrangements have been made to facilitate a smooth and safe pilgrimage experience for visitors during the nine-day festival.
