Pilgrims Flock To Vaishno Devi As Navratri Festival Kicks Off

Srinagar- With chants of 'Jai Mata Di' and devotional bhajans filling the air, hundreds of devotees on Monday thronged the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta Hills, marking the beginning of the nine-day Navratri festival.

The town of Katra in Reasi district was adorned with sparkling lights and colorful decorations, creating a festive ambience as pilgrims began their journey to seek the blessings of Mata Rani. Officials said nearly 10,000 devotees visited the shrine on the first day.

“The Shrine Board has made elaborate arrangements to ensure a comfortable yatra,” said Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Volunteers have been deployed to guide pilgrims, manage the rush, and ensure smooth movement along the 13-km yatra route.

Drinking water points, medical stations, and crowd management measures have been put in place, while wireless communication sets have been introduced for better coordination. A multi-tier security grid involving police, CRPF, paramilitary forces, and quick-response teams is active throughout the festival.

Devotees climbed the decorated serpentine path, chanting hymns and singing bhajans, offering prayers at the holy Bhawan. Many pilgrims, like Hunamant Singh from Uttarakhand and Simita from Pune, expressed that the darshan brought them a sense of calm and divine blessings.

The pilgrimage resumed on September 17 after being suspended for 22 days following a landslide on August 26, which killed 34 people and injured 20 others.

MENAFN22092025000215011059ID1110095896