Vijay Hashia
vijayhashia@hotmail.com
The pilgrimage to the sacred shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi holds a distinguished place in the spiritual geography of India. Every year, lakhs of devotees, from all age groups, from every nook and corner of the country, undertake this arduous yatra with faith, devotion, and emotional reverence. Among them are thousands of senior citizens, many battling age-related problems who undertake this arduous journey with an unshakable resolve to seek Mata’s blessings at the holy cave.
While several major shrines across India have incorporated quota based darshan facilities for senior pilgrims, Mata Vaishno Devi remains an exception. Temples such as Tirumala Tirupati Balaji, Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Mahakaleshwar, Jagannath Puri, Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Golden Temple, Siddhivinayak and several other major shrines have been facilitating senior-citizen darshan queues, limited-time slot reservations, wheelchair assistance, buggy services, and fast-track pathways. These are not token gestures, privileges or symbolic freebies; they are compassionate meaningful interventions, acknowledging human limitations of age, health and dignity of elderly devotees who wish to offer prayers without a prolonged wait. This facility for seniors prevents the elderly from being lost in labyrinthine queues or being jostled by crowds that can, at times, turn stampede-prone disaster.
In contrast, the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi, though supported by excellent infrastructure in many respects, continues to remain physically demanding. The steep ascent of nearly 12-13 kilometres from Katra to Bhawan tests even the fittest individuals. Although options such as ponies, palkis, battery vehicles from Adh Kumari to Bhavan, and helicopter services exist, either they do not fully resolve the hardships or remain inaccessible at times due to rush, inclement weather, or high demands. Moreover, these facilities still do not guarantee priority darshan at the sanctum for seniors. Seniors have to wait in serpentine queues amidst general devotees.
Shri Mata Vaishnav Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) must mull over why several prominent religious centers all over India have prioritized ease of access for senior devotees while this prominent shrine, despite its gargantuan footfall remains an exception. Is it cultural inertia? A hint of cultural insularity? Or the kind of administrative machismo that “toughs it out” rather than extending help? Whatever the reason, the impact on senior pilgrims is deeply poignant.
The author’s own experience on 04th and 05th November month echoes the very hardships that senior citizens across the country recount. Despite reaching the Bhawan with effort and devotion, no priority facilitation was available. The author observed senior citizens hobbling, fettered by exhaustion with no volunteer stepping forward to proffer priority entry or assistance. At times, the crowds brazen swagger and impatience emasculated the sanctity of the space. The queues were long and the waiting time stretched into uncomfortable hours, no priority slips for arthi poojas and accommodation to stay overnight, which alleviates the hardships of seniors.
Given these realities, it becomes important to ask: why can senior-citizen priority darshan not be implemented at Mata Vaishno Devi when it is already practiced in multiple religious centers across India? The shrine, after all, is among the most revered and widely visited in the country, drawing crores of devotees each year. If such a heavily frequented temple can smoothly manage large crowds every day, it is entirely possible to carve out a dignified and efficient system for senior citizens without disrupting the overall crowd flow.
Extending a senior-citizen quota at Mata Vaishno Devi is not simply about convenience. It is an acknowledgment of the emotional, physical, and spiritual commitment that elderly devotees invest in this pilgrimage. For many, this yatra is a lifelong aspiration carried out despite frail health, knee problems, restricted mobility, respiratory issues, and age-related fatigues. A priority system would honour their devotion and ensure their safety. Furthermore, it would reflect the very ethos of the shrine: compassion, care, and respect for seniors.
The Shrine Board must introduce a special entry gate, limited-slot priority timings, a dedicated queue, and even RFID-enabled access for seniors. In addition, discounted transport assistance such as wheelchairs, ponies and battery cars to the elderly can significantly reduce their physical strain. These measures are administratively feasible, cost-effective, and already proven successful elsewhere.
Extending senior-citizen priority darshan would not create disorder-it would create dignity born out of humanity. It would ensure that the elderly, whose devotion has weathered decades, are not left stymied, sapped, or stranded in queues that defy their physical limits. May the Shrine Board grasp the urgency and may Vaishno Devi’s path-sacred, steep, inviolable-be made kinder for those who have walked life’s longest roads.
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