Katra: “Mata has called us, and we will leave only after having ‘darshan’!” These words capture the feelings of thousands of pilgrims who have been waiting for the Vaishno Devi yatra to resume for the last 20 days. On Sunday, the patience of these devotees finally broke at the Katra base camp as they tried to breach the security cordon and march towards the Trikuta hills, chanting “Jai Mata Di” and creating a tense atmosphere.
A heavy contingent of police deployed at the spot stopped the protesting pilgrims at the Banganga Darshani gate. According to officials, the devotees made repeated attempts to move forward for several hours during the day but were not allowed to succeed. This standoff is a result of the frustration that has been building since the fatal landslide on August 26. In that tragic incident, 34 pilgrims lost their lives, prompting the Shrine Board to suspend the yatra immediately.
The Shrine Board had announced the resumption of the yatra from September 14, but this decision had to be reversed due to incessant rains and safety concerns, which further angered the pilgrims.
Rajiv Lodhi, a pilgrim who walked barefoot from Madhya Pradesh for two months, said, “I just want to have ‘darshan’ of the Mata as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, a woman from Mumbai named Rekha emotionally stated, “We don’t know anything; we are going to complete our pilgrimage at any cost.”
After a standoff lasting several hours, police and administration officials managed to persuade the devotees to calm down and disperse. For now, the administration is unwilling to take any risks with safety, while the pilgrims, with their unwavering faith, continue to camp in Katra.
—Source Hindustan Samachar
