Insta
Mata Vaishno Devi Temple Reopens After Four Months; Devotees From Outside J&K To Be Tested Before Trek
IANS
Aug 16, 2020, 12:12 PM | Updated 12:12 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
After four months the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was reopened for devotees on Sunday (16 August), officials said.
“Two thousand pilgrims will only be allowed to proceed to the shrine daily from today.
“Out of these, 100 would be from outside Jammu and Kashmir and 1,900 devotees would be locals. All outsiders will have to undergo Covid-19 test before they are allowed to undertake the trek to the shrine.
“Thermal scanners have been installed at different places on the trek to Mata’s Shrine. No helpers or ponies will be allowed to move with the devotees who will have to walk the entire trek from Katra base camp”, officials said.
Religious places in J&K were closed following the Covid-19 outbreak. And, in view of this, pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi was suspended four months back.
The shrine situated on the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district of Jammu division is the most thronged religious place in J&K.
Before the pandemic, over 2.40 crore devotees have been visiting the shrine each year.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.