On Saturday, the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine was temporarily suspended due to an excessive influx of visitors. By noon, over 39,000 pilgrims had reached the shrine, leading to critical crowding in the area around the temple. This surge in visitor numbers is attributed to the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival, which runs from March 19 to March 27, prompting local authorities to take preventative measures to ensure safety.

Authorities reported that the pilgrimage was halted around 4 PM when crowd numbers became unmanageable. Previously registered pilgrims, numbering over 10,000, were already on their way to the cave temple, and many had to be advised to return to their hotels until the situation could be addressed. The Shrine Board has outlined plans to restart the registration process for new visitors starting at 4 AM on Sunday.

This incident highlights the significant interest in religious sites during festival seasons in India and poses questions about crowd management strategies. As the celebration of Navratri attracts large numbers of devotees to Vaishno Devi, it emphasizes the need for effective planning and coordination by local authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims.