Vaishno Devi Reopens For Devotees After 5 Months

Katra (J&Okay):

Khushvinder Singh is a part of a 12-member team from Jammu who reached Katra sooner than crack of dawn to pay obeisance on the well-known Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The shrine along side different spiritual puts around the Union Territory reopened for devotees on Sunday morning after final closed for just about 5 months because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I used to return to the shrine once or more each month to supply my prayers. I believe blessed to be again at the first day of the reopening of the shrine,” the 48-year-old Khushvinder Singh instructed PTI.

Khushvinder Singh had reached Katra, the bottom camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine, round four am and used to be a few of the first batch to supply prayers on the sanctum sanctorum – the holy cave which is without equal vacation spot of the pilgrims.

The gates of the shrine reopened for the devotees round 6 am and Leader Government Officer (CEO) of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ramesh Kumar used to be noticed taking last-minute overview of the measures to make sure the security of the pilgrims from the feared illness.

“The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage used to be stopped on March 18 as a precautionary measure to forestall the unfold of COVID-19 and now when the management had determined to reopen the spiritual puts, the board had taken all essential measures maintaining in thoughts the problem posed by way of the feared illness,” Ramesh Kumar mentioned.

Within the first week, there might be a cap of two,000 pilgrims every day, of which 1,900 can be from Jammu and Kashmir and the remainder 100 from out of doors.

“The federal government has pop out with an in depth Usual Running Process (SOP) and the pilgrims are asked to observe the tips for their very own protection and the security of others,” Ramesh Kumar mentioned whilst analyzing the automated thermal screening level which along side hand sanitizer used to be arrange alongside the access level dotted with circles to make sure social distancing.

Most effective the pilgrims who’ve registered themselves on-line are being allowed to adopt the pilgrimage.

The pilgrims are directed to make use of conventional routes — from Katra to Bhawan by means of Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat — to achieve the shrine and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg for his or her go back adventure.

“The pilgrims, coming from crimson zones, and out of doors Jammu and Kashmir must go through COVID-19 take a look at and handiest the ones pilgrims with adverse reviews can be allowed to transport in opposition to Bhawan,” Ramesh Kumar mentioned.

Youngsters beneath 10 years, pregnant ladies, individuals with comorbidities and the ones above 60 years had been recommended to keep away from spiritual puts in the interim.

An enormous sanitisation marketing campaign used to be introduced by way of the shrine board proper from Katra to Bhawan sooner than the resumption of the pilgrimage.

“We have been ready impatiently for the reopening of the shrine and I’m feeling excellent to be right here. We’re grateful to the Lt Governor management for the verdict,” Mohit Sharma, a resident of R S Pura house of Jammu, mentioned as he set out for the Bhawan from the Bal Ganga access level.

He lauded the shrine board for its preventive measures and mentioned “prayers also are wanted to conquer this pandemic”.

“We’ve come to hunt the blessings of the Mata to conquer our troubles,” Pankaj Sharma mentioned as he displayed hand sanitizers and face mask whilst transferring in opposition to the shrine.

He mentioned the devotees want to give complete improve to the shrine board which is doing its perfect to make sure the security of the pilgrims.