Over 51 lakh pilgrims pay obeisance at Vaishno Devi shrine

Jammu, Sep 28 (UNI) A record 51 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the holy Vaishno Devi cave shrine during the current year.

Officials said the figure is five lakh more than the corresponding period of last year. The number is expected to cross 70 lakh by the end of this year.

Thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country are pouring in at Katra, the base camp of the shrine, and teh number has risen since the start of Navratras. More than 30000 pilgrims are visiting the shrine daily and over two lakh devotees have so far had the darshans of revered 'pindis in cave shrine during Nnavratras.

The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department and other organisations of Katra have organised a number of cultural activities including various folk dances, devotional song competitions, a daily shobha yatra-cum-cultural procession during the 11th Navratra festival. The cultural activities are attracting scores pilgrims from different parts of the country, UNI RKS PM GC1858