Nishikant Khajuria
nishikant.khajuria@gmail.com
As holy Navratras approach, local stakeholders in Katra — the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine are anticipating that the upcoming year will be kinder than the last when Pahalagam terror attack followed by Indo -Pak war like situation and then natural calamities cast a long shadow over the yatra dealing a heavy blow to the local economy and tourism-dependent businesses in the town.
According to official reports , total pilgrim footfall in 2025 was approximately 68.85 lakh devotees – a drop of over 27 per cent from the 94.84 lakh recorded in 2024. This reduction in the visitors underscores the profound effect on the religious tourism in the region.
On 22 April 2025, a brutal terrorist attack near Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley left 26 tourists dead and over 20 injured. Although this attack did not occur on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage routes themselves, the wider perception of insecurity in Jammu & Kashmir following the massacre deeply troubled potential visitors across the region. News of tourists being attacked hundreds of kilometres away from Katra prompted many families and larger pilgrimage groups to cancel or delay travel plans out of caution, particularly in the immediate months following the incident.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Government conducted Operation Sindoor in early May, targeting militant infrastructure on the other side of the Indo-Pak border. This military escalation marked one of the most serious confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Although brief, it significantly heightened regional tensions, including diplomatic measures like the closure of airspace and suspended travel arrangements, which compounded concerns among domestic travellers. The sense of uncertainty that followed this intense geopolitical episode further dampened the inclination of many devotees to embark on long-distance pilgrimages in 2025.
The most direct hit to the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage infrastructure occurred on 26 August 2025, when a massive landslide triggered by incessant rain struck the yatra route at Adhkuwari, about halfway along the 12 km trek from Katra to the shrine. At least 34 pilgrims lost their lives and scores were injured.
The tragedy forced the authorities to suspend the pilgrimage for over two weeks, halting foot traffic entirely during one of the busiest months of the year. The uninterrupted suspension – at times stretching beyond 14 days – disrupted travel plans, bookings, and the rhythm of daily operations in Katra. Even after the yatra resumed in mid-September, suspension of train traffic due to severe damage to railway track as well as bridges forced the pilgrims to either cancel or delay their plans for the darshan.
Katra’s economy is heavily dependent on religious tourism. Hotels, guesthouses, eateries, transport services, pony and porter operators, porters, and numerous informal service providers rely on a steady stream of pilgrims throughout the year. The sharp drop in pilgrim numbers translated directly into reduced revenue for all categories of local businesses. Established tour operators, travel agencies, and local vendors reported fewer bookings and a noticeable reduction in ancillary purchases such as food, accommodation, and pilgrimage services. The number of pilgrims arriving daily was significantly lower than expectations, affecting cash flows and causing inventory overstock in hospitality businesses.
Many small businesses, particularly family-run hotels, Dharamshalas and roadside eateries that operate on thin margins, struggled to cope with the sustained downturn. Some were forced to offer steep discounts to attract customers, while others temporarily reduced staff or closed down certain services to cut costs.
The informal economy of Katra – including pony handlers, porters, local transport drivers, and souvenir sellers – felt the brunt of reduced footfall. These workers depend on consistent pilgrim year-round spending for their livelihoods. With reduced visits and prolonged disruptions during crucial festival seasons, weekly earnings dropped sharply, leading to economic distress for those with minimal financial buffers.
Authorities also initiated safety vacating orders for businesses located in landslide-prone and vulnerable zones, forcing temporary shutdowns of hotels and shops until structural safety certificates could be obtained. Although aimed at protecting visitors, these measures added another layer of operational uncertainty for owners already coping with reduced business.
While late-December figures showed a modest resurgence in pilgrim enthusiasm with thousands of devotees arriving as the New Year approached, the overall yearly shortfall left a clear imprint on Katra’s local economy.
Therefore, the combined effects of the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor tensions, landslide tragedy and disruption of rail traffic not only dented pilgrimage numbers but also triggered economic hardship for the businesses and communities of Katra that rely on this spiritual journey for their livelihoods.
According to Raj Kumar Padha, President of the Chamber of Tourism Trade & Industry, Katra, they are anticipating that the current year will be good for the pilgrimage and local business. “The yatra usually picks up from the first week of April and we are hopeful of the same. However, the train traffic has not yet been fully restored and the road network is also not good because of ongoing work on National Highway at various places, which are cause of concern,” he added and appealed the concerned authorities to ensure complete restoration of rail traffic as well as smooth flow of road traffic as early as possible.
He also urged the Shrine Board to facilitate pilgrimage by ensuring basic facilities like water, power and sanitation etc for better experience to the pilgrims which ultimately leads to image building of not only Katra but entire Jammu and Kashmir.
Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra, also stressed that every effort should be made to restore the train traffic as early as possible and maximum publicity to the pilgrimage for restoring confidence among the devotees across the country that everything was normal and conducive for undergoing yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
As the shrine Board and local stakeholders work towards restoring confidence among the devotees, we may hope that the year 2026 will witness resumption of the yatra to its fullest and revival of all the business activities in holy town Katra.
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