Jammu: More than 55 lakh devotees paid obeisance in the first seven months of the current year at the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi situated in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.
An official on Wednesday said in the first seven months this year, 55,03,995 devotees visited the cave shrine and the figure compared to the last year in these months is almost double as due to Covid pandemic second wave in 2021 the yatra remained affected.
In seven months of last year, 23,88,859 devotees visited the cave shrine and so far this year in the said period, 31,15,136 more pilgrims visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
However, as per official figures, in 2022, in the month of January (figure in lakhs), a total of 4,38,521 devotees paid obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, in February, 3,61,074 devotees, in March, 7,78,669 devotees, in April, 9,02,192 devotees, in May, 9,86,766 devotees, in June, 11,29,231 devotees and in July, 9,07,542 devotees offered prayers to the natural pindies inside the cave shrine.
“Till July, a total of 55,03,995 devotees have reached the Bhawan,” said an official, expecting that by year end, the figure this year may touch one crore.
However, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is taking care of all facilities and basic amenities for the pilgrims for their smooth journey. (UNI)