Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 14: Pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji has touched 2 million mark during the current year even as the shrine was witnessing heavy rush of yatris during ongoing Navratras.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the yatra has touched 20 lakh in less than three and a half months in 2013 even as it was shot by about 1.5 lakh as compared to last year. All three months of the first quarter have recorded impressive yatra.
Sources said the pilgrimage touched the figure of 2 million tonight. During first 14 days of this month, about 4.5 lakh yatris have offered prayers at natural cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi located between Trikuta Hills of Katra. The figure included 1.18 lakh yatris, who paid obeisance at the shrine during first three Navratras. Today on fourth Navratra, nearly 32,000 people left Katra, the base camp of the shrine for Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan.
During January this year, 4.36 lakh yatris visited the shrine as against 4.59 lakh last year while the number was 3.49 lakh in February as compared at 3.92 lakh last year. In March, 7.87 lakh pilgrims offered prayers to the Goddess as against 8.74 lakh previous year.
During first 13 days of this month, about 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located at a height of 5200 feet from sea level. The number was almost at par with the corresponding period last year.
“Overall, the yatra was down by 1.21 lakh during the current year so far,’’ sources said but hoped that it would pick up further in the months from May to August during summer vacations across the country.
Going by the trends, this could be third consecutive year when the pilgrimage would touch or surpass 1 crore to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. Last year, 1.04 crore pilgrims had visited the widely revered shrine while the number was 1.01 crore in 2011.
Sources said during first four Navratras this month, nearly 1.5 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi.
Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi was 13.95 lakh in 1986 when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had taken over affairs of the shrine. Since then, the yatra continued to go up every year creating new records.
It was for the first time in 1991 that the pilgrimage crossed 3 million (31.15 lakh). The 4 million mark was reached in 1996 while the yatra reached 50 lakh in 2000 and 60 lakh in 2004. It was in 2007 that the yatra stood at 74.17 lakh.
The pilgrimage came down to 67.92 lakh in 2008 due to two months long Amarnath land agitation but again went up to 82 lakh in 2009 and reached 87.2 lakh in 2010. It was for the first time in 2011 that the yatra crossed 10 million mark and stood at 1.01 crore.
During 2012, the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine had crossed 10 lakh for three consecutive months. It was 12.3 lakh in May, 12.62 lakh in June and 12.01 lakh in July. It missed 10 lakh figure in August by 16,000. During 2011, the pilgrimage had crossed 10 lakh figure in July and August (11.21 lakh and 10.05 lakh respectively).
Sources said the Shrine Board was now bracing up to receive 1 crore pilgrimage almost every year. It could further pick up once the train reached Katra. The Railways were expected to extend train service up to Katra from Udhampur during the current year, which could bring more rush of pilgrims.
The Shrine Board authorities were augmenting facilities keeping in view the increase influx of pilgrims with the arrival of train service to the holy town. Another alternate track from Katra to Adh-Kunwari was nearing completion and was likely to be commissioned during current year.
The Board has already allotted work for construction of passenger ropeway from Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati and material ropeway from Katra to Bhawan.
With the completion of Katra-Adh-Kunwari track, there would be two alternate tracks right from the base camp to the Bhawan. Already there was an alternate track from Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan.
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