Katra/Jammu: The pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills remained suspended for the 20th consecutive day due to bad weather, prompting a protest by pilgrims at the Katra base camp in Reasi district on Sunday, officials said.
Police thwarted repeated attempts by devotees to break the security cordon and proceed with the yatra in violation of the shrine board’s orders.
The pilgrimage was halted on August 26, just hours before a massive landslide struck the route, killing 34 pilgrims and injuring 20 others. The shrine board had earlier announced that the yatra would resume on September 14 but reversed the decision due to continuous rainfall along the track and near the sanctum sanctorum since Friday.
On Sunday, a group of devotees, including women, gathered at the Banganga Darshani gate in Katra, chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’ slogans and trying to move ahead. Police personnel deployed in large numbers stopped them after hours of persuasion, eventually convincing the protesters to disperse.
Some pilgrims expressed frustration.
Rajiv Lodhi from Madhya Pradesh, who walked barefoot for two months to reach Katra, urged the shrine board to restart the yatra, even in small batches.
Vinod Kumar from Chennai, who arrived with his family on Friday, said the fresh suspension disappointed them deeply. “We understand the decision was for our safety, but we cannot extend our stay further,” he said.
Rekha from Mumbai, emotionally distressed, questioned why online registration was still open if the yatra remained suspended. “We are determined to complete our pilgrimage, whatever the cost,” she said.
Raj Kumar Jha from Bihar insisted, “We came here on Mata’s call, and we will leave only after performing darshan.”
