Katra, 16 May (H.S.): As the guns have fallen silent on the borders with ceasefire between India and Pakistan after escalated tension and normalcy has limped back, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has offered free facilities to woo the pilgrims from across the country to the sanctum sanctorum nested here in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The pilgrims have started returning to the pilgrimage and to facilitate their journey from Katra to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, efforts are being made to provide free facilities,” Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said.
“As devotees have started heading towards the base for performing the yatra gradually, witnessing an increase, the Shrine Board is providing all the facilities to them for their smooth and hassle-free journey,” the CEO said.
“To enhance the number of pilgrims, the Shrine Board is providing several facilities to the pilgrims free of cost, starting from Katra including free Aarti Darshan and accommodation,” Garg expressed.
He revealed that besides that, the Shrine Board has also set up food counters at various places en route Bhawan, at Banganga and as well as at Katra Railway Station.
The Shrine Board had also announced a free accommodation facility at the Katra-based Ashirwad Complex for the devotees, he said.
The CEO said, “Although numbers remain modest, with summer vacations and the tourism season ahead, we are expecting a heavy rush of pilgrims in the coming days.”
Notably, on May 15, by 10 PM, as many as 5,423 devotees had left from Katra to the cave shrine, and during the period of escalated tension between India and Pakistan, 45,430 pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine from May 6 to 13.
On May 6, 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 visited the shrine.
—————
Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
