Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra witnessed an unprecedented surge of devotees on the occasion of New Year, prompting authorities to take urgent crowd-control measures. Thousands of pilgrims from across the country reached the holy shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to severe congestion along the yatra routes and surrounding areas.
The situation became challenging as heavy crowds gathered at multiple points, leaving little space for movement. The continuous inflow raised safety and management concerns for the administration. To prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth darshan, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board decided to temporarily suspend new registrations.
According to officials, the registration halt remained in effect until the morning of January 1. During this period, only already registered pilgrims were allowed to proceed. The move aimed to regulate footfall and provide a safer pilgrimage experience for devotees already on the track.
Authorities stated that similar crowd pressure is being seen at major religious and tourist destinations nationwide due to New Year celebrations. Popular places in Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Sonmarg, also reported heavy tourist arrivals.
Elsewhere, Manali and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, along with Nainital in Uttarakhand, saw record visitor numbers. From Ayodhya and Varanasi to Shirdi, Ujjain, Dwarka, and Puri, long queues marked the start of the New Year.
The Shrine Board appealed to devotees to cooperate and follow official advisories for a safe and peaceful yatra.
