Katra, March 26: More than 2.69 lakh devotees have offered prayers at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival, according to officials in Katra. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board confirmed that as of March 25, exactly 2,69,716 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave temple since the festivities began on March 19.
A senior official of the board stated that the yatra is going on smoothly despite the huge rush. He maintained that the nine-day period traditionally draws some of the highest footfalls of the year. To ensure the safety of those trekking the 13-kilometer route from Katra, authorities briefly suspended pilgrim registration on two occasions to regulate the flow of worshippers.
Security forces, including the police, CRPF, and paramilitary units, have deployed multi-tier arrangements across the yatra tracks and the Bhawan area. Officials affirmed that quick-response teams and volunteers are stationed along the route to manage movement. Furthermore, the board has introduced wireless communication systems this year to improve coordination among the various agencies managing the festival, which also features the ongoing Shat Chandi Maha Yagya.
