Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra postponed; thousands of devotees stranded in Katra

Katra (The Uttam Hindu): Following a weather warning of heavy rain and landslides, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has suspended the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi from October 5th to 7th. Consequently, the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, the pilgrimage route, the Adkunwari Temple complex, and the Darshani Deori area wore a deserted look on Sunday.

However, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 pilgrims who had arrived in Katra from across the country are still staying in Katra, waiting for the pilgrimage to begin. On Saturday night, the Shrine Board closed registration centers two hours earlier than usual, at 8 p.m., causing inconvenience to pilgrims traveling late at night.

Many devotees reached the Darshani Deori and requested permission to proceed towards the temple, but the Shrine Board refused permission for security reasons. They were eventually forced to return to Katra.

The weather took a turn for the worse late Saturday evening. Overcast skies descended, and light rain continued until Sunday morning. However, the weather cleared up afterward, and the sun shone throughout the day.

Devotees are now repeatedly appealing to the Shrine Board to allow them to proceed to the temple as the weather has improved. The Board has clarified that the decision to resume the pilgrimage will be made based on weather conditions and reports from security agencies.