Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has decided to keep traditional old cave of Mata Vaishno Devi ji open till the yatra was confined around 10,000 and water level inside the cave was well within the prescribed limit.
Official sources told the Excelsior that traditional and old cave of Mata Vaishno Devi ji has been opened as the yatra presently was hovering between 9,000 to 11,000. It touched 15,000 on weekends. Around 10,000 yatris could have darshan easily from the traditional cave without any waiting.
The SMVDSB has decided to keep open the natural cave from 10 am to 4 pm during the days and 10.30 pm to 5 am during the night subject to the conditions that rush didn’t escalate and water level inside the cave was within the limits that the pilgrims could have darshan easily and smoothly.
“The water is getting very cold inside the cave during night. This aspect was also being taken into consideration while allowing the pilgrims from the natural cave to the sanctum sanctorum for darshan of natural pindies of Goddess Vaishno Devi’’, sources said.
Yesterday, 11,000 pilgrims had darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi while today 10,000 yatris left Katra, the base camp of the shrine, for the Bhawan. The average of 10,000 pilgrims has visited the shrine this month so far.
Sources said the months of January and February generally witnessed low rush due to extreme cold and preparation of exams by the students. The rush picks up in the middle of March.
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