Jammu Tawi, May 28:
The town of Katra, the base camp for the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, is witnessing a revival in activity as the number of pilgrims visiting the cave temple in Trikuta Hills begins to rise steadily. The recent surge comes after a period of noticeable decline in footfall following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor” launched by Indian forces.
According to officials from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, daily pilgrim numbers have now climbed back to around 18,000–20,000, marking a significant rebound. “The yatra has been picking up pace over the past week,” a board official confirmed, adding that the figure recently crossed 20,000 for the first time in nearly a month.
The renewed activity is restoring vibrancy to Katra, where local businesses had suffered in the wake of security concerns. Traders, religious groups, and the administration are now hopeful that pilgrim numbers will continue to grow, particularly with summer vacations underway across many Indian states.
In a bid to enhance security and instill confidence among devotees, the Shrine Board, under the direction of Chairman and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, inaugurated an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) on May 22 at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra. This advanced surveillance facility features over 700 CCTV cameras with facial recognition and motion detection capabilities, allowing real-time monitoring and quicker response times across the shrine route.
The Shrine Board has also been proactive in offering free facilities to pilgrims to encourage greater turnout. These include complimentary Aarti Darshan, accommodation at the Ashirwad Complex in Katra, and free food services at key locations such as Banganga and the Katra Railway Station.
Despite the temporary slump in April, pilgrimage numbers have remained strong overall. During the heightened India-Pakistan tensions from May 6 to 13, over 45,000 devotees visited the shrine. On May 15 alone, 5,423 pilgrims offered prayers. More than 3.5 lakh pilgrims visited during Navratras in April, and by mid-April, over 25 lakh had paid obeisance at the shrine this year.
With improved security and supportive measures, the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage appears well on track for full recovery.
