Navratri Festival: Over 30,000 Pilgrims Head Towards Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

March 23, 2026

Jammu & Kashmir: A huge rush of pilgrims reached the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine base camp, Katra, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Sunday, and they are now proceeding towards the shrine as the Navratri festival picks up momentum.

Over 30,000 Pilgrims Begin Yatra

Office of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said that a massive rush of devotees is being witnessed at Katra, with over 30,000 pilgrims departing for their onward journey to the holy cave.

Navratri Fervour Across the Region

The surge in footfall comes in the wake of the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival, drawing thousands of devotees from across the country to seek the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi.

Despite the heavy inflow, the yatra is progressing in an orderly manner with authorities maintaining strict crowd control and ensuring essential facilities for pilgrims.

Smooth Yatra & Improved Arrangements

Devotees have praised the arrangements in the area, noting improved signboards and informative displays across the route.

Registration for the yatra resumed at 4 a.m. on Sunday after a temporary suspension due to overwhelming crowds at Katra.

Despite the brief halt, the pilgrimage continued smoothly throughout the night. Nearly 1 lakh devotees have already paid obeisance at the shrine since Navratri began.

The shrine, located in the Trikuta Hills, witnesses over 1 crore pilgrims annually and is managed under the supervision of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha.