New record at veshno devi

Jammu: The cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevisituated at the Trikuta Hills in Jammu and Kashmir hasachieved a historic milestone by recording the visit of onecrore pilgrims so far this year.

The number of visitors this year is 12.5 lakh more thanthe previous tear, a shrine board official said. "Today, Mata Vaishnodevi shrine has created a newmilestone as it has crossed arrival of one crore pilgrims thisyear. We are very happy over the new record," additional chiefexecutive officer (ACEO) of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board(SMVSB) Mandeep K Bhandari said.

Rakesh Vishawkarma, who arrived with family from Jaipurtoday, became the one croreth pilgrim to pay the obeisance atthe shrine, Bhandari said.

The milestone was achieved in the silver jubilee year ofconstitution of Mata Vaishnodevi board, he said, adding thatthe pilgrimage went up from 13.96 lakh in 1986, the year whenthe board was set up. From then, the traffic of pilgrims hasincreased almost nearly five times till now.

Bhandari said in year 2010, 87,49,326 pilgrims visitedthe shrine, over 5,14,430 lakh more than 2009's figures of82,34,896 and over 20 lakh more than total pilgrims arrival of67,92,223 in 2008.

As many as 74.17 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrinein 2007, rising from previous marks of 69.5 lakh and 67.83lakh in years 2006 and 2005 respectively, Bhandari furthersaid, noting that during past one decade, Mata Vaishnodevi hasbecome second busiest shrine in the country after TriputiTemple in Andhra Pradesh.

Giving further break-up of the figures, Bhandari saidrecorded visit of pilgrims include 21.69 lakh in 1990, 31.16lakh in 1991, 35.16 lakh in 1992, 33.68 lakh in 1993, 37.05lakh in 1994, 40.11 lakh in 1995, 44.09 lakh in 1996, 47.19lakh in 1997, 48.30 lakh in 1998, 49.10 lakh in 1999 andrecord 52.31 lakh in 2000, 51 lakh in 2004.

The number ofpilgrims rose from 3 lakh in 1970 to 52 lakh in 2000. Bhandari said SMVSB will take all steps to cater therequirements of the pilgrims arriving in future and expressedhope that the shrine will continue to achieve new targets.

Ever since its takeover, the board takes care of allbasic amenities en-route to the shrine from Katra base camp,which include hospitals, accommodations, 650 water-points, 35shelters-cum-sheds, 13 cafeterias apart from several shopsserving eatables and beverages.

The board also provides transportation facility in the13-km track through ponies, dandi, puthoos and horses besideslooking after the arrangement of lighting facilities en-route. The sacred shrine among Hindus holds a belief thatanybody who walks the Himalayan trail, gets his wish fulfilledand never returns disappointed.