Katra, March 30: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has introduced a host of new facilities and upgraded existing services to provide a seamless and spiritually enriching experience for devotees visiting the revered shrine during the auspicious commencement of Chaitra Navratra.
Under the guidance of Chairman Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the Board aims to elevate the pilgrimage experience by offering enhanced comfort, convenience, and inclusivity, said Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board.
The nine-day-long Shatchandi Yagya was inaugurated with the chanting of Vedic hymns and sacred rituals at the Holy Cave Shrine, seeking peace, prosperity, and well-being for humanity. To ensure a smooth and comfortable journey, the Shrine Board has launched several initiatives that include around 200 smart lockers installed near the Skywalk area, that offer a secure storage solution. Linked with RFID cards, these lockers provide devotees with a safe and hassle-free way to store their be-longings.
To facilitate seamless communication, especially for devotees using prepaid SIM cards, free PCO ser-vices have been set up in collaboration with Bharti Airtel at various points along the track. Compli-mentary slots have been introduced for differently-abled devotees to participate in the Garbjoon Aarti at Adhkuwari and the Atka Aarti at Bhawan. Additionally, dedicated quotas for helicopter book-ings and complimentary battery car services have been allocated for their convenience. To mitigate fatigue and provide respite, resting zones have been established at Banganga and Adhkuwari, ac-commodating up to 2,000 pilgrims at a time. These areas offer a comfortable and sheltered space for devotees, ensuring a rejuvenating break before they continue their journey. The Inderprastha Bho-janalaya at Adhkuwari has been expanded to serve 200 devotees, while the Langar facility has been extended to Shubhra Bhawan at Banganga. This supplements the existing Langar Seva at Tarakote Marg, Sanjichhat, Adhkuwari, and Bhairon Ji, providing fast-related food options for devotees ob-serving Navratra fasts. As part of the Navratra celebrations, the Shrine Board has also organised mesmerising Bhajan and Bhaint performances by renowned artists during the morning and evening Atka Aarti. These devotional renditions are set to further enrich the spiritual experience of pilgrims, fostering an atmosphere of deep faith and devotion. With these extensive arrangements, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is committed to making this Navratra a memorable and spiritually fulfilling experience for all devotees visiting the holy shrine.
