Vaishno Devi shrine expected to receive 85 lakh pilgrims this year, highest in five years | India News, The Indian Express

Vaishno Devi shrine expected to receive 85 lakh pilgrims this year, highest in five years | India News, The Indian Express

By PTI |Jammu |Updated: December 29, 2018 6:50:01 pm

Vaishno Devi shrine expected to receive 85 lakh pilgrims this year, highest in five years

The pilgrim arrivals had dropped from 93.24 lakh in 2013 to 78.03 lakh in 2014 and further to 77.76 lakh in 2015 and 77.23 lakh in 2016. However, last year's figure of 81.78 lakh pilgrims was crossed almost 20 days ago.

Last year’s figure of 81.78 lakh pilgrims was crossed almost 20 days ago. (Photo: PTI)

The pilgrims visiting the famous Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is likely to cross 85 lakh this year — the highest in the past five years.

“We are expecting to cross 85 lakh turnout of pilgrims by December 31 midnight. We have already crossed 84.50 lakh and an estimated 50,000 pilgrims are expected to visit the shrine during the next 48 hours,” Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Simrandeep Singh told PTI.

He said last year’s figure of 81.78 lakh pilgrims was crossed almost 20 days ago.