"Pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi was, for the first time in the history, all set to cross seven million mark within a fortnight as 68.34 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance to goddess Vaishno Devi this year till now," additional Chief Executive Officer(ACEO), Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB), Puneet Kumar told PTI.
Going by the present trend, we hope the yatra this year will touch 74 lakh mark. Pilgrimage will cross the seven million mark for the first time in the next 10 days, he said.
With 68.34 lakh yatra till today this year, the increase from corresponding period last year was 3.50 lakh, Kumar said, "Katra never sleeps now. It only had rest before 1986." The taking over of the famous Vaishnodevi shrine by the government in 1986 and subsequent improvement in the facilities by the then Governor Jagmohan has led to the flood of pilgrims to the Trikuta shrine located at height of 6200 meters above sea level.
"This shrine has become the busiest Himalayan and cave shrine across the country. The pilgrim turnout rose from three lakh in 1970 to 52.31 lakh in 2000 and 69.50 lakh in 2006," he said. PTI
