Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 12: Near about three lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi in last eight days of Navratra Festival.
According to official figures 2,90,607 pilgrims visited the holy cave since the first Navratra on October 5 to Durga Ashtami today.
This is 15,000 more than corresponding period of Navratra Festival last year, Pankaj Gupta, Deputy CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) told Excelsior.
He said the rush during the Navratra festival was much better in comparison to last year. However there was overall decline in Yatra to holy cave this year and near about 7.50 lakh less pilgrims visited the cave shrine this year in comparison to corresponding period last year.
The reasons for decline in yatra rush were attributed to Uttranchal tragedy created by weather gods this Summer and imposition of curfew and other law and order problem in the State for some time in the months of August and September.
The rush of pilgrims continued at Bawe Wali Mata temple during the Navratra festival and according to reports about 80,000 pilgrims from different parts of Jammu region visited the shrine during last eight days.
The reports said that the highest number of 17,000 pilgrims visited the shrine on Durga Ashtami today to pay their obeisance. The devotees were waiting in long queues from early in the morning to have darshan.
Reports coming from Samba district said that undeterred by recent Fidayeen attack at Samba and Hiranagar about 15,000 pilgrims visited the Chechi Mata temple in Samba during the last eight days of Navratra festival while 6,400 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy shrine on Durga Ashtami today.
The rush of pilgrims also continued at Sukhrala Mata temple, Bani, Bala Sundri temple, Nagri Parole Kathua, Mata Sundri Balakote, Billawar, Ashapurni Kathua, Chanchala Mata Basholi, Joda Wali Mata and Dola Wali Mata Bani. Over 80,000 pilgrims visited in these temples during the Navratra festival to pay their obeisance.
Reports reaching here from Kathua said that about 40,000 devotees performed darshan in these temples on the occasion of Durga Ashtami today.
In view of the recent Fidayeen attacks in twin border districts of Samba and Kathua the authorities had made elaborate security arrangements at these temples, reports said.
Meanwhile there was a heavy rush on the banks of rivers and canals all over Jammu region with people in large numbers were seen busy in immersion of Saakh.
In Jammu heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at Tawi bank near Bikram Chowk, banks of Ranbir Canal and Tawi canal where the people were busy in immersion of Saakh from early in the morning.
The rush of devotees was seen at the bank of river Chenab (Chanderbagha) Akhnoor where a large number of people had gathered to immerse the Saakh from wee hours today.
Reports coming from Kathua and Samba said that hundreds of devotees were seen busy in immersion of Saakh in the rivers of Ujh, Ravi, Kathua canal and other local rivers of the area.
On the occasion of Durga Ashtami today a large number of devotees led by the office bearers of Sanatan Dharam Sabha Handwara visited the holy shrine at Chandigam in Kupwara district of North Kashmir and paid their obeisance there. They performed pooja -archana and Samohik Aarti. Later the prashad was also distributed.
The devotees visited the holy Sadhu Ganga Shrine in Kandi and temple of Handwara also and paid their respects at these shrines.
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