Katra, January ,2026- The holy town of Katra continued to witness a massive rush of devotees on the second day of the New Year, as thousands of pilgrims thronged the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to seek blessings and begin 2026 on a spiritual note.
According to officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), registrations crossed the 45,000 mark, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend fresh registrations late on Wednesday night to regulate crowd movement and ensure pilgrim safety. The registration process was resumed early Thursday morning after the situation was brought under control.
Despite the heavy footfall, the yatra remained peaceful and well-managed, with elaborate security and crowd-control arrangements in place. Additional deployment of police, CRPF, disaster response teams, and shrine board staff was made along the yatra route. Facilities such as medical aid, drinking water, sanitation, and shelter were strengthened to cater to the surge of pilgrims.
Authorities have advised devotees to follow official guidelines, cooperate with security personnel, and register only through authorised channels. Weather conditions in the region remained favourable, further encouraging pilgrim turnout.
The continued influx reflects the strong faith of devotees and underscores Katra’s importance as one of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations, especially during the New Year period.
