Vaishno Devi: Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra resumes after 22 days, devotees say, 'I had hoped to see the mother, it will be fulfilled today'

The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra resumed on Wednesday morning amid chants of "Jai Mata Di." The pilgrimage had been suspended for 22 days due to a landslide that claimed the lives of 34 people and injured more than 20 others.

The Shrine Board announced the resumption of the pilgrimage this morning, which will continue only if the weather remains favorable. The news brought joy to the faces of hundreds of pilgrims stranded in Katra.

The pilgrimage resumed at 6 a.m. from both routes. Previously, the pilgrimage had been temporarily halted due to bad weather and track repairs.

The Board has issued several guidelines for the safety of pilgrims. Valid identification cards and RFID cards are mandatory for all pilgrims. Pilgrims have been requested to follow the designated routes and cooperate with ground staff. The Shrine Board also thanked all pilgrims for their patience and cooperation. A Board official said,

The resumption of the pilgrimage is a symbol of our collective faith and resilience. We are committed to the safety of pilgrims and maintaining the dignity of this holy shrine. A woman from a group of pilgrims from Pune, Maharashtra, said, "We arrived in Katra two days ago and were confident we would definitely have darshan of the Mother Goddess. We are very happy that the yatra has begun today." Devotees described the day as very special and expressed their gratitude to the authorities.

The Shrine Board has appealed to all pilgrims to strictly follow safety guidelines and stay connected to official channels for any updates. Now that the route has been declared safe, a large crowd of pilgrims is expected during the Navratri festival, which begins on September 22. The yatra was suspended on August 26 after landslides damaged the yatra route and claimed several lives.