Vaishno Devi by Helicopter
Vaishno Devi by Helicopter
his 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.â€
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.
Mr. 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.
Vaishno Devi by Helicopter
