Vaishno Devi Cave reopens after 5-month hiatus

1900 local, 100 outside devotees to be allowed daily

Key Highlights

• Only 2,000 people, 1900 from J&K and 100 from outside the UT, will be allowed every day to visit the temple

• A massive sanitisation drive has been launched by the temple authorities to combat COVID-19 outbreak

Jammu Tawi, August 16: 

Mata Vaishno Devi temple reopened for devotees on Sunday after a 5-month hiatus due to coronavirus pandemic. The authorities, however, are taking all the necessary precautions and put in place a number of restrictions to keep the virus outbreak in check.

The temple authorities have confirmed that only 2,000 people will be allowed to visit the temple per day while only 100 people from outside Jammu and Kashmir will be permitted to make the pilgrimage every day.

Importantly, people from red zones will be allowed to visit the temple on the condition that they produce negative test reports for COVID-19.

While speaking to media, Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board confirmed that during the first week of the resumption of pilgrimage, there shall be a ceiling of 2,000 pilgrims per day, including 1,900 from within Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 100 from outside the Union Territory.

“The situation will be reviewed thereafter and the decision will be taken accordingly. Pilgrims will be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage after registration through online mode only in order to avoid any assembly of persons at the Yatra Registration Counters,” said Kumar.

The shrine board will be abiding by health norms induced by the Centre to contain the spread of coronavirus.

He further added that the yatra will move in a uni-directional manner. The traditional route from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat will be used for going up and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg will be used for coming back from the Bhawan.

The temple authorities have launched a massive sanitisation campaign from Katra to Bhawan and in the Bhawan area to ensure utmost sanitisation and cleanliness before the resumption of the yatra.

The shrine along with other religious places across the Union Territory reopened for devotees on Sunday morning after remaining closed for almost five months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The gates of the shrine reopened for the devotees around 6 am and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ramesh Kumar was seen taking last-minute review of the measures to ensure the safety of the pilgrims from the dreaded disease.

“The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was stopped on March 18 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and now when the administration had decided to reopen the religious places, the board had taken all necessary measures keeping in mind the challenge posed by the dreaded disease,” Kumar said.

In the first week, there shall be a cap of 2,000 pilgrims each day, of which 1,900 would be from Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 100 from outside.

“The government has come out with a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the pilgrims are requested to follow the guidelines for their own safety and the safety of others,” Kumar said while inspecting the automatic thermal screening point which along with hand sanitizer was set up along the entry point dotted with circles to ensure social distancing.

Only the pilgrims who have registered themselves online are being allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.

The pilgrims are directed to use traditional routes — from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat — to reach the shrine and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg for their return journey.

“The pilgrims, coming from red zones, and outside Jammu and Kashmir would have to undergo COVID-19 test and only those pilgrims with negative reports will be allowed to move towards Bhawan,” Kumar said.

Children below 10 years, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities and those above 60 years have been advised to avoid religious places for the time being.

A massive sanitisation campaign was launched by the shrine board right from Katra to Bhawan before the resumption of the pilgrimage.