KATRA, January 14, 2026 — The long-awaited spiritual desire of pilgrims at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan has been fulfilled as the administration officially reopened the natural cave for darshan.
To mark the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) performed traditional rituals and Vedic prayers before throwing open the gates of the ancient cave to devotees.
While the natural cave was accessible for a brief period immediately following the ceremony, the administration has since transitioned most of the crowd back to the new circular caves to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Despite the opening, the Shrine Board has issued a clarification regarding its continuous use. Due to the high influx of pilgrims currently at the Bhawan, it is not physically possible to allow every devotee passage through the narrow natural cave.
Consequently, the board has decided to adopt a flexible entry policy: the ancient route will be opened specifically during “off-peak” hours when the crowd density is low. This measure aims to balance the religious sentiments of the pilgrims with the necessary safety and management protocols required at the holy shrine.
