25 Pak pilgrims to worship at Vaishno Devi Shrine

Jammu, Apr 8: Fifty-two Pakistani pilgrims have reached holy town of Katra in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine situated at Trikuta hills, official sources said here today.

Sources said a group all Hindus hailing from Sindh, reached Katra base camp late last night. ''The delegation is on 15-day tour and would visit various religious places including Vaishno Devi, Amritsar and Hardwar,'' official sources told the sources, adding that they had started their pilgrimage for bhawan this morning and would return tomorrow. They would also visit other destinations. However, for the first time, the Pakistanis have been visiting the cave shrine since the board was set up in 1986. They hailed from Jakababad and Kashmor districts of Sindh province and were accorded a warm welcome by the people at Katra. SP Katra Ashok Sharma told UNI no restrictions have been imposed on Pakistanis.

The group of visitors had entered into the Indian Territory via Wagah border on April 5 and would visit Golden temple, Jalianwala Bagh and Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar and Hardwar during their 15-day stay here, before returning to Pakistan.

UNI