33 lakh pilgrims visit Mata Vaishno Devi this year

Jammu, June 29 (UNI) A record number of over 33 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country have visited the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi so far this year with 4.5 lakh pilgrims up from the corresponding period of last year.

The spokesperson of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Om Prakash Padha told UNI here this evening that there was a heavy rush of pilgrims to the shrine these days.

The daily influx of pilgrims at the base camp Katra town was about 35,000 to 40,000 pilgrims per day during the second fortnight of this month.

Earlier, in the first fortnight of this month, it was about 25,000 to 30,000 pilgrims per day. As many as 35,477 pilgrims were issued Yatra slips for Darshan of holy cave shrine yesterday.

During the month of June so far about 8.13 lakh devotees have paid obeisance in the holy cave shrine whereas last year in this period about 7.60 lakh devotees had offered prayers.

The Board has made elaborate arrangements for the heavy rush of pilgrims including special arrangements of sanitation.

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