Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 16: Pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji has crossed 85 lakh and was all set cross one crore mark for second consecutive year even as Navratra festivities started at Katra, the base camp of the shrine, Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located between Trikuta Hills and other places on 13 kilometers track.
Official sources told the Excelsior that pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine this year has so far crossed 8.5 million mark and was easily expected to surpass the figure of 10 million mark for second successive year.
Last year 1.02 crore pilgrims had visited the shrine, creating a new record. It was for the first time that pilgrimage had surpassed 10 million in a year.
Going by the trend of pilgrimage during current year with number of the pilgrims having already surpassed 85 lakh, sources said this year too the yatra would easily cross 10 million mark.
A heavy rush was expected at the shrine during Navratras, which started today. On first Navratra, nearly 30,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi.
Sources said the pilgrimage was up by nearly 4 lakh this year as compared to corresponding period of last year.
During September this year, 8.77 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine as against 8.58 lakh of last year recording an increase of 18,827. However, in the month of August, the yatra saw decline of 66,284 yatris. This year during August, 9.84 lakh yatris paid obeisance to the Goddess while the number last year was 10.5 lakh.
This was for the first time this year the number of the pilgrims visiting the holy cave shrine remained above 12 lakh for three consecutive months. In May, June and July this year, 12.3 lakh, 12.62 lakh and 12.01 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the holy shrine. Even in the months of April and August, the yatra was close to 10 lakh (9.61 lakh and 9.84 lakh respectively).
During 2007, 74.17 lakh pilgrims had visited Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan while the number came down to 67.92 lakh in 2008 due to Amarnath land row agitation. However, the yatra again went up to 82 lakh in 1009 and 87.2 lakh in 2010. Last year, it crossed 1 crore for the first time.
Meanwhile, Navratra festivities started today at holy town of Katra, Vaishno Devi Bhawan and other areas. Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan had been illuminated for the Navratras.
Sources said a ‘shobha yatra’ would be taken out daily in Katra town. Bhagwat Katha would also be held daily at Ragunath temple. All India devotional songs competition is also being held. In addition, Songs and Drama Division of the Government of India would hold cultural programmes.
For the first time, wrestlers from five countries including Olympians from India were likely to participate in the ‘dangal.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel