Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 29: Even as the pilgrimage to the world famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was disrupted for five months from the period of mid of March to mid of August, nearly 17 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the Bhawan situated in Trikuta Hills of mountainous Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The pilgrimage for the first time in the history was stopped on March 18, 2020 in view of COVID pandemic and by this time, 12,52,734 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
In the month of January, 5,12,569, in February 3,96,683 and from 1 to 18 March, 3,43,482 pilgrims visited to the cave shrine and offered prayers but thereafter the yatra was immediately stopped in view of COVID pandemic, which forced Centre announce countrywide lockdown.
However, the yatra resumed on August 16 with all SOPs in place and the maximum cap of 500 pilgrims per day allowed visiting the cave shrine.
As per Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board official, post yatra resumption, this year, till December 27, the total number of pilgrims visited to Bhawan was 16,68,879 lakh (nearly 17 lakh).
From August 16 to 31, the number of pilgrims visited was 7253, in September, 27,427, in October, 1,21,661 and in November, 1,03,749.
In the month of October, 39,974 pilgrims paid obeisance during nine days of Navratras at the Cave Shrine.
The official further said that out of total pilgrims in this period, 15,764 were from Jammu and Kashmir and 24,210 were from outside the Union Territory.
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