Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Oct 1
This year’s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir is poised to surpass all the previous records.
‘Over 62 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country and abroad have already visited and paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine during the past ten months’, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Mr. Puneet Kumar informed, further adding that “if the trend of pilgrims remains the same what has been during the past six months, the yatra may cross an all time high record of 74 lakhs, as during each of the past six months the number of pilgrims has never fallen below 7 lakh per month.”
Elaborating on the statistics, the Additional CEO said that against 62,00356 pilgrims visiting the Himalyan shrine from January to October this year, their number was 59,25,059 during the corresponding period last year. In all 69,50,573 pilgrims had darshan of the Mata in 2006, he maintained.
The yatra influx during the past six months has continuously remained over seven lakhs though it crossed 9.57 lakhs in June, the peak month as for as pilgrimage is concerned.
In May 7,99,079 yatris visited the shrine against 7,15,259 in July, 7,03,840 in August, 7,03,840 in August and 7,56,395 in September, the Additional CEO said.
Kumar announced that the Board has opened the old cave of the shrine for darshan to provide enhanced spiritual bliss to pilgrims during the day between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, he added that this mechanism will remain in vogue only when the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine is comparatively lesser than the daily average. As and when, the pilgrim rush swells, the old cave may be closed for darshans due to management reasons, he explained.
The Shrine Board, managing the biggest pilgrimages of North India, is monitoring the pilgrim arrivals and facilities available to them on daily basis with focus on providing greater spiritual satisfaction and amenities to the visiting pilgrims. |
