A record 161651 pilgrims paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi, Shivkhori in 3 days

Arvind Sharma

Jammu Tawi, Jun 14: A record number of pilgrims have come to Jammu from 10^th to 12th of this month as one lakh sixty one thousand and six hundred and fifty one thousand pilgrims (161651) have paid their obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devin shrine and Shivkhori and the number is still swelling.

“This is the highest ever number of pilgrims visiting various religious places of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 3 days”, sources said, while adding, “the number of pilgrims visiting here is most likely to go up as the registrations for Mata Vaishno Devi and and Shivkhori have reached their peak”.

As per the official figures accessed exclusively by the Northlines, a total of on lakh forty five thousand two hundred and eighty (145,280) pilgrims have so far paid their obeisance at the holy Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the last 3 days.

The pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shivkhori are from all across the country and abroad including Jammu and Kashmir.

The pilgrims from Utter Pradesh (UP) are on top who paid obeisance at Shri Mata Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori as 40585 pilgrims from UP paid their obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori from 10^th of this month to 12^th of June.

The UP is followed by the pilgrims from Bihar who paid their obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori from 10^th of June to 12^th.

A total of 16371 pilgrims have also paid their obeisance at the holy Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi District of Jammu region from 10 to 12^th of this month, the official figures revealed.

Official sources further informed that there is an unprecedented rush of pilgrims intending to pay their obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi since the last 3 days.

The authorities are being forced to stop the Vaishno Devi Yatra every day in the eveing since the last three due to heavy rush of devotees, they said.

As per the official figures, a total of 43447 pilgrims paid their obeisance at Shri Mata Vishno Devi on 10^th of this month, while 5310 pilgrims visited Shivkhori.

Likewise, a total of 46564 pilgrims paid their obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi on 11^th of this month, while 5418 pilgrims visited Shivkhori.

On 12^th of this month, a total of 45269 pilgrims paid their obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, while 5643 pilgrims paid their obeisance at Shivkhori.