Heavy rush of pilgrims at Vaishno Devi during Navratras

Jammu, Oct 3 (UNI) Heavy rush of pilgrims flocked the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at Katra base camp in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir as the Navratra festival today entered the fourth day across the country, official sources here said.

''Over one lakh pilgrims have visited the holy shrine while a sea of pilgrims is reaching the base camp Katra,'' the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board official told UNI.

The first four days of the Navratras, observed a huge number visiting Katra to pay obeisance at the shrine.

However, during the first two days of Navratras, over 65,000 pilgrims from various parts of the country have visited the holy cave shrine and with this, the number of pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi since Januray 1, has touched the figure of about 50 lakh.

Meanwhile the shrine board, while taking up several measures to accommodate the pilgrims, has made special arrangements to perform 'Havan' and 'puja' at Bhawan during the Navratra.

It has also arranged for 'Chattchandi Yagya' and other traditional rituals at the shrine coinciding with the ongoing nine-day long festival.

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