The administration noted that the number of pilgrims rises sharply as New Year approaches. Traditionally, three to four days before the New Year witness heavy crowds.
The new rules aim to ensure safety, prevent overcrowding at the shrine and surrounding areas, and avoid stampede-like situations. The Shrine Board has instructed officials at registration centers to keep informing pilgrims about the new rules. The regulations apply to all modes of travel, including the traditional trek, helicopter rides, and battery-operated cars.
Online registration is now compulsory for all pilgrims and must be completed through the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s official website. To assist devotees, a registration centre has been set up at Katra railway station, which will remain open until midnight.
New rules aim to ensure safe and smooth pilgrimage
The Shrine Board said the new regulation is designed to make the yatra safer and more organised. By limiting the time pilgrims spend on the track, it will reduce congestion, enable faster rescue operations during emergencies such as illness or bad weather, and lower the risk of cold-related health issues. The Shrine Board clarified that the purpose of the new rule is not to inconvenience pilgrims but to ensure smooth crowd management and safe darshan, especially during the New Year rush.
