Mata Vaishno Devi temple reopened for devotees today after a 5-month hiatus due to coronavirus pandemic. The authorities, however, are taking all the necessary precautions and put in place a number of restrictions to keep the virus outbreak in check for Mata Vaishno devi Yatra 2020. The temple authorities have confirmed that only 2,000 people will be allowed to visit the temple per day while only 100 people from outside Jammu and Kashmir will be permitted to make the pilgrimage every day.
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Important things to keep in mind
- Importantly, people from red zones will be allowed to visit the temple on the condition that they produce negative test reports for COVID-19.
- Vaishnodevi Temple is located on the Trikuta Hills of Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is about 5200 feet in height and 61 km from Jammu and 13 km from Katra. The three bodies of Vaishno Devi are enshrined in the cave as Goddess Kali, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi.
- Ramesh Kumar, CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board speaking to reporter said that the yatra is to begin on Sunday (August 16) today. Devotees will have to register online for darshan. It will be mandatory for all devotees to download the Arogya Setu App in the phone. Masks, social distancing and sanitization have to be taken care of.
- The situation will be reviewed thereafter and the decision will be taken accordingly. Pilgrims will be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage after registration through online mode only in order to avoid any assembly of persons at the Yatra Registration Counters," said Kumar.
- Thermal scanning of passengers will also be done. Children below 10 years, pregnant women, people above 60 years of age will not be allowed to visit. Also, people with any symptoms associated with covid-19 will be barred from visiting.
- He further added that the yatra will move in a uni-directional manner. The traditional route from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat will be used for going up and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg will be used for coming back from the Bhawan.
- The temple authorities have launched a massive sanitisation campaign from Katra to Bhawan and in the Bhawan area to ensure utmost sanitisation and cleanliness before the resumption of the yatra.
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