According to authorities, the registration counters were closed until Thursday morning to allow the situation to stabilise. The shrine has been witnessing exceptionally high footfall since Monday night, with thousands of pilgrims arriving from different parts of the country to offer prayers and seek blessings at the start of the New Year. Despite dense fog and cold weather conditions in the region, devotees continued to undertake the pilgrimage with visible enthusiasm, resulting in congestion at several key points along the track.
Officials stated that additional security personnel, healthcare workers, and sanitation staff were deployed to manage the massive influx. Barricades were installed at strategic locations to streamline the movement of pilgrims, while surveillance and monitoring were intensified at critical stretches, including the Bhawan, Ardhkuwari, and Sanjichhat areas. Medical facilities were also placed on high alert, with emergency response teams stationed along the route to provide immediate assistance if required.
The Vaishno Devi shrine, one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in the country, attracts lakhs of devotees annually. The New Year period traditionally records one of the highest spikes in pilgrim arrivals, often necessitating special arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the yatra. Shrine Board officials reiterated that the temporary suspension of registrations was aimed at maintaining an orderly darshan and preserving the spiritual experience of pilgrims while prioritising their safety.
Authorities further clarified that the resumption of registrations would depend on prevailing crowd conditions and would be announced formally through official online platforms once normalcy is restored. Devotees planning to undertake the pilgrimage have been advised to check official updates before making travel arrangements.
Meanwhile, similar scenes of heightened religious activity were reported across the country as devotees marked the end of the year with prayers and temple visits. In Ayodhya, large numbers of worshippers gathered at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to observe Pratishtha Dwadashi and the second anniversary of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, which coincided with the last day of the year. The temple witnessed steady queues of devotees from early morning, with local authorities making arrangements to manage the influx.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Braj region, the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura, also experienced a significant rush as devotees arrived in large numbers to seek blessings. Officials at these religious centres reported smooth conduct of prayers, supported by enhanced crowd management and security measures.
The nationwide surge in temple visits underscored the strong tradition of year-end religious observances, as devotees sought divine blessings for the year ahead amid tight security and administrative oversight.
