Katra/Jammu, January 13: The natural cave at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, located atop the Trikuta hills in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, was opened to devotees for Makar Sankranti celebrations on Tuesday, officials reported.
The opening of the old cave followed special prayers attended by Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Anshul Garg, among others.
This natural cave, situated within the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum, is typically accessible during the winter months when devotee numbers are lower. Many pilgrims eagerly await this day to experience ‘darshan’ through the cave, which remains closed for most of the year due to safety concerns.
“The natural cave is available for devotees starting today, contingent on the volume of visitors. We will permit pilgrims to have ‘darshan’ in the old cave only when the crowd is fewer than 10,000 to ensure their convenience,” Garg stated.
He noted that the pilgrimage is running smoothly from the new cave, which can comfortably accommodate a large number of pilgrims.
Officials mentioned that over 1.50 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine since the New Year began.
“Our daily footfall at the cave shrine is approximately 10,000 to 15,000, typically peaking on weekends,” the CEO of the shrine board added, expressing hope that the opening of the natural cave will attract even more pilgrims.
Last year, 94.83 lakh pilgrims offered their prayers at this esteemed shrine, marking the second-highest number of visitors in a decade.
