Katra, October 4
The arrangements made by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the J&K Tourism Department for the ongoing Navratra Festival have been proving well as the pilgrims from across the country are enjoying a lot these days.
The pilgrimage, which has so far crossed the mark of 75,73,298 this year, is getting almost 38,000 pilgrims on an average daily.
A senior official of the shrine board said: “Over 2 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Vasihno Devi Cave Shrine since the beginning of Navratras last week.
“We are expecting to cross the mark of 3 lakh pilgrims during the eight-day long Navratra Festival,” said the official sitting at the registration counter.
He said: “This year, the pilgrims are coming here in large numbers as the weather conditions are also favourable”.
The colourful procession, comprising tableaux by artistes, who have come here from Himachal Pradesh, UP, Madhya Pradesh and J&K, is also making the pilgrims to stay here longer than their scheduled visit.
Besides, the triangular wrestling competition between India, England and Pakistan also paid off well, which was won by India’s Joginder Kumar who defeated his Pakistani rival Zaman Anwar at the 7th Mission Dosti International Indian Style Wrestling Competition at Vivekananda Sports Stadium here.
The religious procession in the evenings is also drawing huge crowds.
Darshan Kumar, a hotelier, said: “Pilgrims are enjoying a lot during the festival. This year, the shrine board has made special arrangements to attract the pilgrims”.
“We are also offering 30 per cent discount to pilgrims on room tariffs. Every year, our association offers discounts to pilgrims during the festival,” he added.
Radhika Khanna, a pilgrim from Delhi, said: “The arrangements made by the shrine board are excellent and the performance by the artistes has won our hearts”.
“After watching the performance of various cultural troupes, we have decided to come here during the Navratras next year,” she added.
No comments:
Post a Comment