JAMMU, Mar 19: Braving inclement weather, over 31,000 pilgrims thronged the holy town of Katra and paid obeisance at the revered Mata Vaishno Devi Temple atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi on the first day of Navratri, officials said on Friday.
“As many as 31,690 pilgrims visited the cave shrine and paid obeisance at the temple on the first day of Navratri (Thursday) till 10 pm,” a senior official of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said.
The nine-day Navratri festival commenced on March 19 and will conclude on March 27, with officials expecting a daily footfall of over 30,000 devotees.
The shrine has been decorated with fresh flowers and illuminated with multi-coloured lights, presenting a vibrant and festive atmosphere as a large number of pilgrims continue to arrive.
Officials said over 15,000 pilgrims have registered for the yatra on Friday, while hundreds have been queuing up for darshan at the Bhawan since early morning.
On Thursday, devotees, braving rain and chanting “Jai Mata Di,” trekked along the serpentine route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple to seek blessings.
They said the divine atmosphere, marked by Vedic chants and rituals at the cave shrine, is invoking prayers for peace, prosperity and well-being.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has put in place elaborate arrangements, including a multi-layer security grid comprising Central Reserve Police Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army personnel, along with round-the-clock CCTV surveillance through an Integrated Command and Control Centre.
Extensive facilities such as free battery car and pony services for the elderly and disabled, along with 24/7 sanitation, water and food services, have been arranged to cater to the surge in pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the sacred Shat Chandi Maha Yagya has commenced at the shrine, marking the auspicious beginning of Navratri 2026, officials added.
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