Good news for devotees! The revered pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, nestled atop the Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, is slated to resume on Wednesday, September 17. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) confirmed this much-anticipated restart, though it remains subject to favorable weather conditions.
The pilgrimage had been tragically halted on August 26, just hours before a catastrophic landslip struck the route leading to the shrine. This unfortunate incident claimed the lives of 34 pilgrims and left 20 others injured, casting a shadow of sorrow over the spiritual journey.
Notably, the decision to reopen the yatra follows recent unrest among pilgrims. Just two days prior to the announcement, a significant group staged protests at the Katra base camp, demanding the immediate resumption of the pilgrimage. Earlier, the shrine board had initially planned to reopen on September 14, but persistent heavy rains forced a further extension of the suspension, which, in turn, fueled these protests. Some determined devotees even attempted to breach security cordons, insistent on continuing their journey despite the official directives.
This resumption offers a beacon of hope, allowing pilgrims to once again undertake their spiritual quest, with safety precautions and favorable conditions being paramount.