Katra (Reasi): Over 1.70 lakh devotees paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple during Navratri, with chants of “Jai Mata Di” and devotional bhajans resonating throughout Katra, the base camp of the revered shrine.
Observed from September 22 to Wednesday, Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga and draws one of the highest pilgrim turnouts at the Vaishno Devi shrine during this period. Officials reported a steady rise in footfall.
“Over 1.70 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine so far. The yatra is proceeding smoothly, and the number of devotees is increasing each day,” said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board CEO Sachin Kumar Vaishya, urging more pilgrims to visit the temple.
Pilgrims, chanting slogans and devotional songs, trekked the winding path from Katra to Bhawan, the temple’s main sanctum, under tight security. Suresh Kumar of Ujjain, part of a 12-member group, said, “Today being Navami, a particularly sacred day, visiting Vaishno Devi is a spiritual calling. Despite floods in the Tawi river and devastation in Jammu, we did not cancel our railway tickets. It was a call from Mata to bless us.”
Katra, its twin routes, and Bhawan, adorned with lights and flowers, have been buzzing with spiritual fervour and festive gaiety since the start of the nine-day Shardiya Navratri on September 22. Veena Rai of Karnataka, who had to cancel tickets twice due to weather and train disruptions, said, “For the seventh consecutive year, we are here during Navratri. It is a divine experience to perform darshan with family.”
Vaishya noted that the Shrine Board has made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth yatra, deploying volunteers along the 13-km route to guide pilgrims and manage crowds. This year, wireless communication sets have been introduced to improve coordination, while a multi-tier security system involving police, CRPF, paramilitary forces, and quick-response teams is in place.
The pilgrimage resumed on September 17 after a 22-day suspension caused by a devastating landslide on August 26, triggered by torrential rains, which claimed 34 lives and injured 20 others.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees thronged the Mata Kali temple, or Bawe Wali Mata, at Bahu Fort in Jammu city to offer prayers on Maha Navami. Pilgrims stood in long queues under the sun, chanting hymns, while many also visited the Tawi and Chenab rivers to immerse sacred ‘saakh’ offerings, continuing a centuries-old ritual that reflects the region’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
