Jammu Tawi: The holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi reverberated with religious chants as nine-day Navratra commenced amid a heavy rush of devotees on the first day of the festival on Sunday.
Despite inclement weather conditions, pilgrims continued to arrive in large numbers to seek the blessings of the goddess Mata Vaishno Devi, creating an atmosphere of deep devotion and spiritual fervour, an official said.
He, however, said owing to adverse weather conditions, helicopter services remained suspended for the day.
Despite the disruption, devotees continued their pilgrimage, while the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board put special arrangements in place for the safety and the smooth movement of pilgrims, the official said.
Devotees visiting the shrine expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Board, particularly the floral decorations and the crowd management.
Pankaj Kumar, a devotee from Bihar, said he has been visiting the shrine on the first day of Navratri for eight consecutive years and feels spiritually fulfilled after every visit.
He appreciated the arrangements and said that despite lakhs of devotees visiting the shrine, pilgrims are not facing any major inconvenience.
Puja, a resident of Delhi who was visiting the shrine during Navratri for the first time, described the experience as “divine” and praised the Board for allowing local artists to decorate the Bhawan. “Such initiatives will help promote local art and enable it to reach a wider audience.”
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Udhampur-Reasi range) Shiv Kumar Sharma conducted a joint security review of Katra town along with the Army and Central Armed Police Forces to assess preparedness for the expected influx of devotees visiting the Shrine.
The DIG directed officers to maintain high alertness, intensify patrolling, ensure effective coordination and regulate pilgrim movement.
The Navratra festival will begin at 7:30 pm on Sunday at Yog Ashram Ground, Katra — the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine and shall culminate on October 19.
Cultural programmes with a multimedia exhibition will begin at 8:30 pm daily at Govt Higher Secondary School, Katra, which will also host one-day Hasya Vyang and Kavi Sammelan events. From the second Navratra, a Shobha Yatra with 15 illuminated jhankies will leave Asia Chowk daily at 5:30 pm.
A wrestling competition is slated for October 18 at the Sports Stadium, Katra, and a ‘Mata Ka Jagran’ (all-night devotional ceremony) will be held at Raghunath Mandir Chowk, Jammu, the official said.
Shat Chandi Maha Yagya begins
Jammu Tawi: The nine-day Shat Chandi Maha Yagya commenced at the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi on Sunday, marking the beginning of Shardiya Navratras amid religious fervour and spiritual devotion.
Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; other senior officers and staff of the Shrine Board, besides pilgrims were present on the occasion.
The sacred Yagya, organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) for universal peace, prosperity, harmony and the well-being of humanity, commenced with traditional Vedic rituals and chanting of sacred hymns at the Yagyashala situated at the Holy Shrine.
The religious ceremony will continue throughout the nine-day Navratra festival and culminate with Purnahuti on Mahanavami. Devotees can witness the proceedings live on Shraddha MH One channel daily from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM throughout the Navratras.
As per directions of the Chairman SMVDSB (Lt. Governor, Jammu & Kashmir UT), several inclusive and facilitative measures have been implemented to enhance the pilgrimage experience. These included complimentary pony and battery car services for differently-abled devotees, priority access to darshan at the sanctum sanctorum and the establishment of dedicated help desks at key locations to assist pilgrims at large. Besides, comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to ensure a safe, smooth and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for devotees arriving from different parts of the country and abroad.
The Shrine Board has consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening pilgrim-centric infrastructure, improving essential amenities and ensuring that every devotee visiting the Holy Shrine receives a comfortable and hassle-free pilgrimage experience. Additionally, the Shrine Board has undertaken extensive preparations covering accommodation, sanitation, drinking water, medical assistance, security, crowd management and other essential services along the pilgrimage track and at the Holy Shrine. The Shrine Board has also strengthened medical services and emergency response teams stationed at strategic points to provide timely assistance to pilgrims. To facilitate the smooth movement of devotees, adequate arrangements have been made for registration, queue management, accommodation and transportation services.
The Bhawan, Atka and surrounding areas have been adorned with indigenous and exotic fruits and flowers, elaborate reception gates and decorative pandals. The entire Bhawan complex has been illuminated with vibrant façade lighting, offering a visually captivating experience for pilgrims.
As in previous years, devotional performances including Bhajans and Bhaints by renowned artists are being held during the morning and evening Atka Aarti, adding to the spiritual fervor of the celebrations.
During his visit, the CEO, Shrine Board interacted with pilgrims to assess the arrangements and expressed satisfaction with the facilities being provided at both Bhawan and Katra.
The auspicious occasion witnessed an overwhelming response from devotees, with 47,346 pilgrims paying obeisance at the Holy Shrine on the first day of the festival.