Vikram Sharma
Jammu: The sacred cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu has witnessed a noticeable decline in pilgrim numbers in the first five months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
The primary reason behind this drop is the recent tension between India and Pakistan, which impacted travel and religious tourism in the region.
By the end of May 2025, a total of 32,82,765 devotees had visited the Vaishno Devi shrine. In contrast, the number stood at 40,30,927 for the same period in 2024 — marking a decline of 7,48,162 pilgrims.
The dip in pilgrim turnout was especially sharp in May 2025. Only 4,13,365 devotees visited the shrine this May, a steep fall from the 11,66,301 visitors recorded in May 2024. This translates to a year-on-year decrease of 7,52,936 pilgrims for the month. Typically, the shrine sees a daily footfall of 30,000 to 35,000 in May, but this year the numbers dropped significantly.
However, after May 20, as Indo-Pak tensions began to ease, the yatra gradually picked up pace again. At present, 22,000 to 27,000 pilgrims are arriving daily at the base camp in Katra. The shrine complex, pilgrimage routes, and Katra town are once again bustling with activity and devotion.
With the beginning of June, authorities and traders are hopeful that the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage will regain its momentum, possibly reaching a daily figure of 30,000 to 40,000 visitors. The business community is optimistic that if no untoward incidents occur in the coming days, the yatra will soon operate at full capacity.
On June 1, Sunday, the weather took a brief turbulent turn with overnight rains accompanied by lightning. However, daytime weather remained mostly favorable, with only scattered clouds appearing in the afternoon. Pilgrims faced no significant inconvenience, as all essential services were running smoothly.
Security and disaster management arrangements remained robust across all routes. Personnel from the Shrine Board, local police, CRPF, and other disaster response teams were stationed at various points to assist and monitor the ongoing pilgrimage. Pilgrims continued to register at the Katra base camp and collect RFID cards before heading toward the holy shrine.
The Vaishno Devi Bhawan area remained lively, with long queues of devotees waiting patiently for darshan. After receiving blessings, pilgrims proceeded to Bhairav Nath temple, either on foot or using services like ponies, palanquins, porters, or the ropeway.
The pilgrimage is being conducted smoothly, and devotees are enthusiastically shopping for prasad and religious souvenirs at Katra markets, reviving local commerce. To combat the summer heat, the Shrine Board has set up RO water stations across the Bhawan area, Ardhkuwari temple, and other key points, ensuring clean drinking water for pilgrims. Security forces are actively patrolling to maintain peace and safety throughout the yatra.
On May 31, a total of 26,450 pilgrims visited the shrine, and by 1 PM on June 1, around 13,900 had already registered for the journey.
A breakdown of monthly footfall for 2025 compared to 2024 shows a mixed trend. In January 2025, 5,69,164 devotees visited the shrine, compared to 6,16,609 in January 2024. February 2025 saw 3,78,865 pilgrims, down from 4,32,925 in 2024.
However, March 2025 saw a rise with 9,40,143 visitors, compared to 8,61,517 in March 2024. April also recorded growth, with 9,81,228 pilgrims in 2025 versus 9,55,575 in 2024. Yet May 2025 showed a sharp fall.
Overall, the first five months of 2025 recorded 7,48,162 fewer pilgrims than the corresponding period in 2024, but signs of recovery in late May and early June are offering hope for a strong return to normalcy in the coming months.
