Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Apr 11: As many as 32,300 devotees visited holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji on the first day of Navratras today.
“Till late night, 32,300 yatris had left Katra, the base camp of the shrine till late tonight and all of them were expected to have darshan of `natural pindies’ of Goddess Vaishno Devi by tomorrow morning,” official sources said.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has been organizing ‘yagyas’ at Bhawan and other places to mark the pious days of Navratras.
The Board has made several arrangements for the pilgrims to ensure smooth journey during the Navratras. The Board was expecting heavy rush to the cave shrine during the Navratras.
Long queues of devotees were also witnessed for registration of yatris at Katra, the base camp of the shrine.
Tight security arrangements have been put in place on the occasion to ensure a safe and secure Yatra with paramilitary forces and police maintaining a strict vigil at Katra, 13 kilometers Vaishno Devi track and Bhawan besides other places.
People are being frisked at several checkpoints and police officers in plain clothes have also been deployed to keep a vigil on suspicious movements.
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