Katra: Thousands of devotees reached the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday as the nine-day Shardiya Navratri festival began. The holy town of Katra witnessed a festive atmosphere, with pilgrims arriving from different parts of the country to seek the blessings of Mata Rani.
The shrine, located in the Trikuta hills, has been decorated with colourful lights and fresh flowers ahead of the festival. The 13-km route from Darshani Deodi to Bhawan is also covered with lights and floral decorations, giving the entire area a festive look. Long queues of devotees were seen as pilgrims began their uphill journey towards the holy shrine. Many visitors said they wait throughout the year for Navratri to visit the temple and offer prayers.
For several devotees, the annual visit is not just a religious journey but also a matter of faith and devotion. Families from different states have arrived in Katra to take part in the celebrations and seek the blessings of the goddess. Officials expect more than 50,000 pilgrims to visit the shrine every day during the Navratri period. Keeping the expected rush in mind, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has made special arrangements to manage the crowd and ensure a smooth pilgrimage.
ALSO READ: 15,000 Cement Bags, One Giant Maa Durga Image: Adani’s 70 Foot Navratri Tribute
Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, said arrangements have been made to make the journey safe and comfortable for devotees. Volunteers have been deployed to guide pilgrims and control the movement of people along the route. Medical kiosks, drinking water points and holding areas have also been set up at different locations. An AI-based crowd management system and multi-level security arrangements are in place to monitor the situation and handle the large number of visitors.
The festival has brought fresh energy to Katra, where shops, hotels and other facilities are seeing increased activity with the arrival of pilgrims. The lights and decorations along the route have added to the festive mood. Shardiya Navratri is celebrated across the country with prayers and worship dedicated to Goddess Durga. The festival continues for nine days, with devotees visiting temples, observing fasts and taking part in religious activities.
With thousands of pilgrims arriving and more expected in the coming days, the shrine is set for a busy Navratri season. The Shrine Board is focusing on crowd management, security and basic facilities to ensure that devotees can complete their yatra without major difficulties.
-
-
-
-
