In a significant move aligning with environmental consciousness, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) announced on Wednesday that devotees visiting the sacred site will now receive a plant as 'prasad'.
This initiative was launched on World Environment Day by the Board's Chief Executive Officer, Anshul Garg, at the base camp in Katra.
The Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, nestled in the Trikuta hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, draws nearly one crore devotees annually, making it one of the most venerated religious destinations in India.
The new initiative, which offers plants from the newly established nursery 'Vaishnavi Vatika', aims to merge spiritual devotion with environmental stewardship.
"On this World Environment Day, I congratulate everyone. The board has consistently worked to protect the environment, and this new initiative is another step in that direction. We are providing plants to devotees as prasad from our nursery," Garg told mediapersons.
He further emphasised the Shrine Board's dedication to ecological preservation, highlighting their ongoing efforts in water conservation, afforestation, and water treatment.
The 'Vaishnavi Vatika' nursery, inaugurated on this occasion, boasts 40 species of plants. These plants are available to pilgrims at nominal prices, with the intention of fostering environmental awareness. Based on the response, there are plans to expand the initiative.
Additionally, Garg mentioned extending this green prasad initiative to the Amarnath pilgrimage. "We are working to make these prasad plants available at Vaishnavi Dham and through counters in Jammu for Amarnath yatra pilgrims," he stated.
Nandan Kumar, a devotee from Pune, expressed his delight, "I am very happy to receive a plant as prasad. It is a wonderful initiative and a special prasad from Mata."
This new tradition at Vaishno Devi not only enriches the spiritual experience but also promotes a greener planet.
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