Katra/Jammu, April 15 (Scoop News) –During the first four Navratra’s as many as 1,52,725 pilgrims from within and outside the state have visited at holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji with this the number of pilgrims visit at holy cave shrine has touched 19,64,424 since January 1st this year so far.
During the first two weeks of this month as many as 4,87,297 pilgrims paid their obeisance at the holy cave shrine.
The Bhawan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is fully decorated with different variety of flowers and pundits are performing havan and Durga pooja daily at Bhawan. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board have made adequate arrangement for the visiting pilgrims on enroute holy shrine as well as in the base camp Katra for their comfortable stay and other necessary facilities required by the pilgrims. Shrine Board has also made arrangements in their restaurants for taking diet (falwar) who observe fast during the holy Navratras.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to regulate the pilgrim traffic besides maintain strict vigil on anti-national and anti-social elements to curb menace like pick pocketing and other social crime.
The Municipality Katra have made proper sanitation arrangements in the holy town.
Meanwhile the Reserve Bank of India has started an exchange old currency notes/coins for two days with the Association of J&K Bank Katra for the facilities of visiting pilgrims.
At the Bus Stand Main Chowk Katra the local public has made a pandal in which the idols of the Ma Durga, Ma Sarswati, Ma Kali and Ganesh with special attraction of Dhenu Bhagat have been installed. Daily Arti and Kirtan are being organized here morning and evening followed by jagarta in the night in which large numbers of locals as well as pilgrims are participating. Big size welcome gates have been installed on all entry points of the road connecting the town.