Ahead of the New Year eve, Vaishno Devi shrine has started witnessing a heavy rush of pilgrims and it is expected to last at least till the first week of January.
So far, the number of pilgrims who have visited the shrine this year has crossed 7.71 million-mark.
Over 25,000 pilgrims today left Katra for the shrine. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is expecting at least 50,000 to 60,000 yatris on December 31. They will be released in batches to ensure that there was no congestion at Bhawan.
Ajit Kumar Sahu, CEO, SMVDSB, said 77.15 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy shrine this year so far and the number of yatris was expected to be around 78 lakh in 2015.
In December so far, 4.3 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the shrine as against 4.09 lakh pilgrims in the corresponding month last year. The SMVDSB authorities have geared up to receive a heavy rush of pilgrims on the New Year eve. Generally, 50,000 to 60,000 pilgrims reach Katra every year on January 1 to celebrate the New Year. As many as 13.96 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine in 1986. The number of pilgrims visiting the shrine increased to 104.95 lakh in 2012, 93.24 lakh in 2013 and 78.03 lakh in 2014.
The pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi was 13.95 lakh in 1986 when the SMVDSB had taken over the affairs of the shrine. Since then, the yatra continued to go up every year creating new records.
It was for the first time in 1991 that the pilgrimage crossed 3 million (31.15 lakh). The 4-million mark was reached in 1996 while it reach 50-lakh mark in 2000 and 60 lakh in 2004. It was in 2007 that the yatra stood at 74.17 lakh. The yatra came down to 67.92 lakh in 2008 due to two- month Amarnath land row but again went up to 82 lakh in 2009 and reached 87.2 lakh in 2010. It was for the first time in 2011 that the yatra crossed 10-million mark and stood at 1.01 crore.
Over 77 lakh pilgrims visited Vaishno Devi shrine so far this year
