Jammu: More than four lakhs pilgrims paid obeisance in 10 days of Navratras at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine situated in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Shrine Board spokesman said that the nine-day long Shat Chandi Maha Yagya organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board during Navratras for world peace, harmony, prosperity and health of humanity also concluded on Monday the auspicious occasion of Ramanavami at the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, other officers and staff of the Shrine Board, besides pilgrims participated in Purna Ahuti and other religious ceremonies performed amidst Vedic Mantras on the occasion.
A group of pandits led by Padma Shri Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, performed the Maha Yagya.
The special additions to the pilgrimage during these Navratras included Skywalk, remodelled Parvati Bhawan, Virtual Darshan through the Holy Natural Cave and free Langar Sewa at Shri Bhairon Temple Complex, besides the ‘Live Darshan Facility’ and Bi-lingual “Shakti” chatbot on the website of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the pilgrims. These initiatives are aimed at making the pilgrimage more convenient and enjoyable for the devotees.
An average of 40,000 pilgrims is paying their obeisance daily and over four Lakh pilgrims have visited the holy shrine since the onset of Navratras, he said. During the nine-day long Shardiya Navratras last year, about 3.15 Lakh pilgrims had visited the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
The pilgrimage has been increasing every month as the Shrine Board is encouraging pilgrims by further adding on state- of- the-art facilities.
Pertinent to mention that the Sky walk inaugurated by President of India on October 12, played a pivotal role in the yatra management during these Navratras and achieved the desired aim of decongesting the Bhawan area by streamlining the entry and exit routes to the holy cave.
The Board had also made impressive and elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims during Navratras, he said adding that these included decoration of the Bhawan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Atka and the area surrounding it with exquisite flowers, round the clock water and power supply all along the tracks leading to the Shrine and in the Bhawan area besides up keeping of sanitation and sanitisation, availability of special “fast related” food at the Board’s Bhojanalyas.
The illumination of the Bhawan area with attractive and colourful lights was also done. For the ease and comfort of pilgrims, facilities like the accommodation, battery operated vehicles, passenger ropeway and helicopter services were also operated smoothly.
The Shrine Board also made arrangements for free food for the pilgrims at Tarakote Marg and Prasad Kendra at Sanjichhat, besides free Langar Sewa at Bhairon, he said.
Other highlights during these Navratras were bhajan and bhaint performances during morning and evening Atka Aarti by the renowned artists like Himesh Reshammiya, Mika Singh, Lakhwinder Wadali, Maithili Thakur, Mani ladla, Kaler Kanth, Kumar Vishu besides budding students of SMVD Gurukul, said the spokesman.
