In Jammu and Kashmir, over 86 lakh pilgrims have visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district so far this year. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the number of pilgrims is expected to surpass 95 lakh by the end of December.
Pilgrim numbers peaked during the festive season, with October alone recording 8,74,657 visitors. Daily counts, which averaged between 14,000 and 18,000 in October, surged to between 28,000 and 38,000 following Diwali and other festivals.
The shrine’s footfall has seen consistent growth since the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board took over management in 1986, when only 13.95 lakh devotees visited. Since then, the numbers have touched historic highs, including 1.04 crore visitors in 2012.
Enhancements in infrastructure and facilities have further contributed to the shrine’s popularity. Recent additions include a skywalk at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, a remodelled Parvati Bhavan, Durga Bhavan, new community kitchens, and railway registration centres. Additionally, the base camp at Katra now features a state-of-the-art call centre operating 24/7, handling nearly 2,500 calls daily from pilgrims worldwide.
