Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: During January 16 to March 11 this year out of 6,83,032 pilgrims, who paid obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, 1,46,535 went through the natural cave of whom 49,666 had darshan of the Sanctum Sanctorum through the natural cave in January, 73,034 in February and 23,835 during 1st – 11th March 2017.
This was disclosed by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, CEO of the Shrine Board in a review meeting held by Chairman of the Board, Governor N N Vohra.
It is pertinent to recall that every year the natural cave of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine remains open from around mid January to mid March when the number of pilgrims is at the lowest. During this period the natural cave is opened and closed on daily basis at regular intervals depending on the flow of pilgrims.
Sahu informed that every year the natural cave is opened for pilgrims for darshan of Holy Pindis of Maa Vaishno Devi after Makar Sankranti, as per usual practice in vogue. However, the SDM Bhawan is authorised to regulate the darshan through the natural cave considering the Yatra rush and congestion at Bhawan to avoid any inconvenience to the pilgrims.
He stated that due to continuous heavy flow of Yatra, continuous darshan via the old cave is not possible and hence it remains closed for Yatris throughout the year and opened only for few weeks after Makar Sankranti. This year the Yatra witnessed an upward surge from Holi festival onwards and the number of pilgrims paying their obeisance remained more than 20,000 daily. Therefore, the natural cave has not been opened thereafter.
Sahu further informed that about 20,000 – 30,000 pilgrims are visiting the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji on daily basis during these days and the overall Yatra during January 1 to March 22 this year is 12,16,908 which is 1,51,006 higher than the Yatra in the corresponding period in 2016.
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