KATRA, OCT 20: The nine-day-long Shat Chandi Maha Yagya, organised by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) during Shardiya Navratras, concluded on Mahanavami with religious fervour and spiritual devotion at the Holy Shrine, as more than four lakh pilgrims paid obeisance to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi during the auspicious festive period.
The concluding rituals were marked by the Purnahuti ceremony, performed amid the chanting of Vedic mantras, invoking divine blessings for universal peace, prosperity and the well-being of humanity. The sacred ceremony marked the culmination of the elaborate religious observances organised by the Shrine Board to uphold the spiritual traditions and sanctity of the revered pilgrimage.
Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB, participated in the concluding ceremony along with senior officers and staff of the Shrine Board and a large number of pilgrims. The Maha Yagya was performed by a group of learned Pandits led by Padma Shri Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, adding spiritual significance to the auspicious occasion.
Over 4 lakh devotees visited the Holy Shrine during Shardiya Navratras, with an average daily footfall exceeding 40,000 pilgrims. The substantial turnout marked a significant increase compared with approximately 1.78 lakh pilgrims recorded during the corresponding period last year, highlighting the growing participation of devotees in the annual Navratra pilgrimage.
The increased pilgrim footfall also placed greater importance on efficient crowd management, public convenience and the provision of essential facilities along the pilgrimage route. To ensure a safe, comfortable and spiritually fulfilling experience, the Shrine Board put in place comprehensive arrangements covering pilgrim assistance, sanitation, hygiene, water and electricity supply, food services and other essential amenities.
Dedicated help desks were established at key locations along the track to guide pilgrims and provide necessary assistance. Arrangements were strengthened to maintain uninterrupted water and power supplies along the track and at Bhawan, while sanitation, cleanliness and hygiene measures were enhanced to accommodate the large number of devotees visiting the shrine.
Special fasting meals were also made available at the Shrine Board’s Bhojanalyas and Langars to cater to the dietary requirements of devotees observing fasts during Navratras. These facilities formed part of the broader arrangements aimed at ensuring that pilgrims could undertake their spiritual journey with greater convenience.
A major addition to the pilgrimage infrastructure this year was the New Vaishnavi Bhawan at Bhawan, inaugurated in May 2026 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The facility has augmented accommodation capacity at the shrine and expanded the range of amenities available to devotees.
Designed to provide a modern, comfortable and efficient environment for pilgrims, the new facility represents an important step towards strengthening the infrastructure at Bhawan in response to the increasing number of devotees undertaking the pilgrimage.
The festive atmosphere at the Holy Shrine was further enhanced by elaborate floral decorations and thematic installations at Bhawan, Atka and adjoining areas. These arrangements added to the spiritual ambience and festive appeal of the shrine during the nine-day religious observances.
Devotional music also formed an important part of the Navratra celebrations, with performances by several renowned artists drawing the attention of pilgrims and enriching their spiritual experience. Artists who performed during the celebrations included Navdeep Wadali, Sudhir Vyas, Mannat Noor, Sippy and Raj Ashoo, Dilbagh Singh, Milind Gaba, Nitin, Milan Singh, Malini Awasthi, Gyan Pankaj, Kanhaiya Mittal, Master Noor, Shashwat Sachdev, Arunita Kanjilal, Jyotica Tangri and Ajay Yagnik.
Students of SMVD Gurukul also presented devotional performances, blending traditional spiritual music with youthful talent and enthusiasm. The musical programmes added to the religious fervour of the celebrations and provided pilgrims with an opportunity to participate in devotional activities alongside their pilgrimage.
The conclusion of the Shat Chandi Maha Yagya marked the culmination of the Shrine Board’s special religious observances for Shardiya Navratras, during which thousands of devotees visited the Holy Shrine daily to seek the blessings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The Shrine Board reiterated its commitment to preserving the religious traditions and spiritual sanctity of the shrine while continuously improving pilgrimage infrastructure, public amenities and service delivery. With the substantial increase in pilgrim numbers, the emphasis remained on ensuring that devotees could undertake their spiritual journey in a safe, organised and spiritually enriching environment.
The combination of elaborate religious rituals, enhanced pilgrim facilities, devotional performances and improved infrastructure marked this year’s Shardiya Navratras at the Holy Shrine, with more than four lakh devotees participating in the pilgrimage and seeking the blessings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
