Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Likely to Cross 10M Mark This Year
This year’s Amarnath yatra spreading over 38 days is scheduled to begin on July 3 simultaneously from both traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes, in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts respectively
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Monday reconstituted the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and nominated nine distinguished personalities, from various walks of life, as its members for three years.
A statement issued in Jammu said that a notification approving the reconstitution of the SMVDSB was issued by the Lt. Governor, who is also its chairman.
The nine members are Sudha Murty, Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Ashok Bhan, Baleshwar Rai, Gunjan Rana, Dr. K.K. Talwar, Kulbhushan Ahuja, Lalit Bhasin and Suresh Kumar Sharma.
Mr. Sinha has in the capacity of its chairman also reconstituted the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) and nominated nine eminent luminaries, from various walks of life, as its members for three years.
They are Swami Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj, Prof. Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K.K.Sharma, K.N.Rai, Mukesh Garg, Dr. Shailesh Raina, Dr. Simridhi Bindroo, Suresh Haware and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri.
This year’s Amarnath yatra spreading over 38 days is scheduled to begin on July 3 simultaneously from both traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes, in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts respectively. The SASB sources said that, so far, more than 3.5 lakh people have registered themselves online for this year’s pilgrimage.
The SMVDSB officials said that about 90 lakh pilgrims visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine tucked away in the Trikuta hills near Jammu in 2024 and that given the trends of first four and a half months, the pilgrimage to the revered place of Hindu worship this year could break all records and reach or cross 10 million mark this year.