Katra, 20 March (H.S.): Braving the rain and bitter chill with fervent chants of “Jai Mata Di”, thousands of devotees trekked along the serpentine path to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi atop the Trikuta hills on the first day of Navratri, to pay obeisance to the deity.

The fresh floral decoration filling the air with fragrance, and multi-coloured lights adding to the visual spectacle, the cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district witnessed a rush of pilgrims on Wednesday, with around 15,000 devotees seeking the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi on the first day of Chaitra Navratri.

Despite heavy rainfall along the route, hundreds of devotees thronged the pilgrimage base camp in Katra before beginning their ascent to the hilltop shrine. “Over 15,000 devotees have paid obeisance at the cave shrine and a large number of them are on their way,” officials said.

They said the yatra is proceeding smoothly amid multi-layered security arrangements.

Groups of pilgrims, with chants of “Jai Mata Di” on their lips, and devotional music playing on loudspeakers, marched along the yatra route towards the shrine for Mata’s darshan.

Vibrant lights and elaborate decorations at the hilltop Bhawan and the base camp have added to the spiritual fervour and gaiety of Katra town. The nine-day festival got off to a grand start, with officials expecting a daily footfall of more than 20,000 to 30,000 pilgrims.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on the auspicious occasion and prayed for peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being of all, the L-G’s office said on X.

A pilgrim from Rajasthan, 90-year-old R K Pawar, said, “I am happy to pay obeisance at the feet of Mata Rani, my sacred practice for the past seven decades. There is a huge rush at the cave shrine on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri.” He said rains cannot deter devotees from paying obeisance to the Mata. “Those who come here for the fulfilment of their wishes never go back empty-handed.” Another pilgrim, Mithlesh Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, said the beauty of Mata’s abode is like the paradise that none wish to abandon. “I have paid obeisance at the lotus feet of Mata.

I do not have words to describe the beauty of the Bhawan. Such is the divinity that one wishes to stay here forever.” Sushma Tiwari from Bihar, patiently waiting at the serpentine queue outside the Bhawan, said the arrangements are excellent, with beautiful decorations and lights captivating everyone. “The atmosphere here is divine, as if part of Devlok (realm of Gods).” The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which manages the yatra, has set up registration counters at the Katra railway station to ease the process for pilgrims in view of the expected influx during Navratri. “All arrangements for smooth yatra have been ensured,” the board said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar