J&K: 3.75 lakh pilgrims visit Mata Vaishno Devi during Navratras

By  News On Air   Apr 07, 2025

In Jammu and Kashmir, 3.75 lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi during Navratras, taking the total number of pilgrims this year to 21.25 lakh so far. The shrine has been witnessing a heavy rush these days. This year, there were only eight Chaitra Navratras, one short of the nine.

All eight Navratras witnessed the arrival of an average of 40 thousand plus pilgrims to the cave shrine. The shrine has been witnessing a heavy rush from the middle of March after exams were over in most of the States and improvement in weather conditions. Navratras, which fall twice in a year- first during March-April and then September-October- generally draw 3 lakh to 3.5 lakh pilgrims.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO Anshul Garg said that 3.75 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi during the Navratras. The pilgrim footfall at the shrine touched an all-time high of 1.04 crore in 2012. In 2024, 94.84 lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine.

However, going by the trends of the first three months, the pilgrimage to the cave shrine this year could break all records and reach or cross the 10 million mark.