Katra/Jammu, Sep 18: The pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district resumed Thursday morning after being briefly halted due to inclement weather, officials said.
The yatra had only just restarted on Wednesday after a 22-day suspension caused by landslides and heavy rainfall in the Trikuta hills. However, it was once again halted the same evening due to poor weather conditions. With skies clearing on Thursday, registration reopened and devotees were allowed to proceed.
Officials confirmed that the yatra was progressing smoothly. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) advised pilgrims to book helicopter services in advance and announced that the pilgrimage would continue subject to favourable weather.
Hundreds of devotees camping in Katra, the base camp for the shrine, expressed relief. “We are happy that the yatra has begun after a long suspension. Now as registration has begun again, we are confident of having darshan and seeking blessings,” said Tribhavan Deka, a pilgrim from Assam, who is visiting with a seven-member group.
Another devotee, Savitri Devi from Uttarakhand, who arrived with 11 family members, said, “It was the call of Mata for all of us to be here. For years, we were trying to visit, but could not. Even with heavy rains, Mata made it possible this time.”
On Wednesday, nearly 2,500 pilgrims were allowed to proceed before the shrine board temporarily suspended the yatra again in the evening due to worsening weather, officials said.
