vaishno-devi-yatra-halted-amid-navratri-rush

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple was temporarily suspended on Saturday due to an overwhelming rush of devotees during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri, officials said.

 

The yatra was halted around 4 pm after more than 39,000 pilgrims had already offered prayers at the cave shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. Authorities said the decision was taken to manage the crowd and ensure the safety of visitors at the Bhawan area.

 

“The yatra has been suspended temporarily due to heavy rush at Bhawan,” a shrine board official said.

 

Announcements were made through police vehicles asking pilgrims to return to their accommodation, while fresh registrations for the yatra are set to resume at 4 am on Sunday.

 

The footfall at the shrine has surged significantly due to the nine-day Navratri festival, which began on March 19 and will conclude on March 27. Officials said the number of devotees is expected to rise further in the coming days as pilgrims arrive from across the country.

Also read: 15,000 devotees visit Mata Vaishno Devi as Navratri begins

More than 10,000 registered pilgrims were still en route to the shrine when the yatra was suspended, officials added.

 

Hundreds of devotees, chanting “Jai Mata Di”, were seen trekking along the pathway to the shrine, reflecting the spiritual fervour associated with the festival.

 

Authorities have put in place multi-tier security arrangements at the Katra base camp and along the route to the shrine to ensure a safe and orderly pilgrimage.

 

Officials said comprehensive arrangements have been made to manage the large influx of devotees, including regulation of entry and movement at key points.

 

The sacred Shat Chandi Maha Yagya commenced at the shrine on Thursday, marking the beginning of Chaitra Navratri 2026. Officials said Vedic chants and rituals are being performed to invoke peace, prosperity and well-being.

 

They added that the shrine board has introduced pilgrim-centric measures to provide a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience despite the heavy rush.

 

The temporary suspension underscores the scale of the turnout during Navratri, one of the most auspicious periods for devotees visiting the revered shrine.