Mata Vaishno Devi Temple

Navratra Festival is celebrated every year in the base camp of Sri Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra. On this auspicious occasion entire Katra town is decorated tastefully and people from the region participate in large numbers.

The Navratra Festival starts with the formal inauguration ceremony. On the first day, after the prayers are offered to Goddess Mata Vaishno Devi, flowers are showered from a helicopter (at times) to mark the beginning of the celebrations. The entire cultural heritage of the region is on display everywhere. One can see the locals dressed up in the traditional attire symbolizing the rich Dogra culture.

Special Rituals/ Prarthana performed in temple

The ‘Aarti’ of the Goddess is performed twice a day first time in the morning before the sunrise and second time in the evening after the sunset, during which only the Pujaris, Pandits and security staff besides senior most functionaries of the Board at Bhawan are allowed inside the sanctum- sanctorum.

The procedure of ‘Aarti’ is a very sacred and lengthy one. The Pujaris perform ‘Aarti’ before the deity first inside the sanctum- sanctorum and then outside the cave. Before the commencement of ‘Aarti’, the Pujaris perform ‘Aatma pujan’ i.e. self-purification. Then the Goddess is bathed in water, milk, ghee (Clarified butter), honey and sugar, which is called Panchamrita Puja. Thereafter the goddess is dressed-up in a saree, chola and chunari and adorned with ornaments. The whole process takes place along with the enchantment of various shlokas and Mantras. Thereafter Tilak (sacred mark) is placed on the forehead of the deity and Naivedya (prasad) is offered to her.

It is a common faith among the folk that Goddess-Vaishno sends a ‘Call’ to her devotees and that once a person receives it, wherever he or she is, marches towards the holy shrine of the great Goddess. A supernatural power seems to draw them through the mountain and they climb up those great heights step by step, chanting ‘Prem se bolo, Jai Mata Di’.

Pilgrims must remember to leave behind any leather shoes or accessories as these are forbidden at Vaishno Devi.

Daily Puja Schedule

Monday to Friday (7AM to 1PM) and (4PM to 9PM)

Saturday, Long weekend Or Civic Holiday (7AM to 9PM)

Sunday (7AM to 8PM)