 Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 14: As devotees staged protests against the continued suspension of the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, sources indicate that the 12-kilometre pilgrimage track is likely to reopen for pilgrims on the first Navaratri, which begins on September 22.
Religious leaders and devotees have urged authorities to resume the sacred journey on this auspicious occasion.
While officers of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) have maintained a guarded silence, religious leaders suggested that the suspended Yatra should not be resumed during the Patru Paksha.
According to highly placed sources, several spiritual preachers believe that restarting the Yatra on the first Navaratri would be a positive and spiritually significant step. The period of Pitru Paksha, which began on September 7 and will conclude on September 21, is traditionally regarded as an “inauspicious” time for undertaking major religious activities. This belief is reportedly influencing the decision to align the pilgrimage’s reopening with the start of Navaratri.
The pilgrimage had been suspended on August 26, just hours before a massive landslide struck the route to the shrine, claiming the lives of 34 pilgrims and injuring 20 others. The tragedy, coupled with continuous heavy rainfall in the region, led the Shrine Board to halt the journey in the interest of pilgrim safety.
In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the Shrine Board announced, “Due to incessant rain at Bhawan and the track, commencement of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra scheduled from September 14 stands postponed till further orders. Devotees are requested to stay updated through official communication channels.”
Earlier, the Shrine Board had confirmed that the pilgrimage would resume from September 14, subject to favourable weather conditions. “Jai Mata Di. The Vaishno Devi Yatra will resume from Sunday, 14th September, subject to favourable weather conditions. For further details and bookings, please visit http://maavaishnodevi.org,” the statement read.
The board had also advised pilgrims to carry valid identification, adhere to designated pathways, and cooperate with on-ground staff. Live updates, booking information, and helpline support were made available through the Shrine Board’s official website.
With protests gathering momentum, and hopes pinned on the coming festive period, attention now turns to whether the pilgrimage will indeed reopen during the first Navaratri, as devotees eagerly await word from the administration. |
