The base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra burst into a kaleidoscope of lights and floral arrays as the nine‑day Shardiya Navratri festival kicked off on Sunday. Across the 13‑km trek from Darshani Deodi to Bhawan, volunteers in teal vests guide groups of devotees, while AI‑based surveillance drones hover above the packed paths.
Isha Verma, a pilgrim from Gujarat, pressed her hand to the stone altar and declared, “This is not just the start of a nine‑day festival; this is the start of a divine journey.” Her words echo the sentiment of hundreds of families who have trekked from cities like Delhi and Indore to seek the goddess’s blessing.
The board’s chief executive, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, explained to reporters that every corner of the trail now hosts dedicated water points, medical kiosks, and a 24‑hour helpline. He added, “We have installed an AI‑driven crowd‑management grid to ensure safety without compromising the spiritual experience.”
Security officials on the ground noted that the influx is projected to exceed 50,000 pilgrims each day, a figure that dwarfs last year’s turnout. A network of CCTV cameras and biometric scanners will capture real‑time flow data, allowing rapid response if congestion spikes.
As the festival rolls on, the shrine board plans a series of nightly prayers and a concluding puja on the 9th day. The board’s preparations aim to balance tradition with modern safety protocols, ensuring that thousands of devotees can complete the trek safely while honoring their faith.