The mountains are calling again. As autumn sets in across Jammu and Kashmir, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is gearing up for the arrival of lakhs of devotees. The nine-day Navratri festival is almost here, and the energy around the shrine is impossible to miss. Shops in Katra are glowing with lights, volunteers are preparing langar's, and chants of “Jai Mata Di” are already rolling down the hills.

Why Navratri Feels Different Here

Navratri is celebrated everywhere in India, but here in Vaishno Devi it feels different. People say the prayers from this hill go straight to the goddess. Maybe it’s the climb that makes it feel special. Maybe it’s the mountain air, or just the way the chants echo around you. Pilgrims talk about it long after they leave. Not the effort, not the crowd - but that closeness, like they carried a piece of the shrine back home with them.

The Walk from Katra

The journey always starts in Katra, a town that feels like it was built around faith. Everywhere you look - shops glowing with prasad, Dhaba's serving steaming food, hotels packed with families - the place breathes Navratri. From here the climb begins. Thirteen kilometres of winding path up to the shrine. Some people take it barefoot, step after step on the rough ground. Others ride ponies or stop often to catch their breath. But no matter how they go, the thought of reaching the cave keeps everyone moving forward.

The path isn’t easy. It climbs, it twists, and sometimes the weather makes it harder. But the sound of drums, the echo of bhajans, and the cry of “Jai Mata Di” give strength when legs start to give up. Children run ahead, parents follow slowly, and groups of strangers sing together like old friends. The trek becomes the memory, not just the destination.

Preparations for Navratri 2025

This year, the Shrine Board is leaving nothing to chance. Officials say more security has been deployed, medical camps are placed at key points, and sanitation facilities have been expanded. Volunteers are already working to set up langar's that will feed thousands every day.

The journey starts at Katra, a town that never really sleeps during Navratri. Shops stay open late, Dhaba's smell of fresh food, and hotels fill up with families waiting to begin the climb. From here it’s about thirteen kilometres to the shrine. Some people walk barefoot, every step a prayer. Others hire ponies, a few sit and rest after each stretch. The climb isn’t easy, but the thought of the cave at the top, the darshan waiting there, is what keeps everyone going.

What Shardiya Navratri Means

Shardiya Navratri marks the beginning of autumn and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Each day is dedicated to one form of the goddess. For pilgrims at Vaishno Devi, this means every visit carries a different blessing.

Priests perform special aartis, and pilgrims believe darshan during Navratri brings peace for the entire year ahead. It’s not unusual to see people traveling across states just to time their visit for these nine days. The faith is that strong.

Beyond Rituals: The Local Impact

For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Navratri is also a lifeline. Hotels and lodges are full, local vendors sell prasad and souvenirs, and transport operators work around the clock. The festival of Jammu and Kashmir brings money, yes, but it also brings a sense of pride. Residents see themselves as guardians of the pilgrimage, and they go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome.

But locals will also tell you the same thing - the shrine is not just an economic opportunity, it’s part of their soul. Many shopkeepers in Katra serve food for free, and villagers often guide first-timers on the trek without expecting anything in return. That spirit of seva (service) is what makes the festival stand out.

Challenges Along the Way

Of course, a festival of this scale is not without its challenges. Crowd management, waste disposal, and environmental protection are always concerns. The mountains are fragile, and lakhs of visitors can leave their mark. That’s why officials are urging pilgrims to be mindful - to carry their devotion but also their responsibility.

As one pilgrim said last year while resting on the trek: “The goddess gives us strength, but it’s on us to protect her home.”

Faith That Unites

If you stand on the path during Navratri, you’ll see people from across India. Tamil chants mix with Punjabi bhajans, Gujarati families share snacks with Assamese travellers, and all boundaries fade. That’s the essence of the Navratri festival at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine - a reminder that India’s strength lies in its diversity, yet its unity of faith.

A Closing Thought

As the first aarti begins, the cave glows faintly. The bells don’t just ring, they roll through the valley, bouncing off the hills. For a moment, everything slows down. You can almost hear people breathing in sync. The chants aren’t new - they’ve been sung for generations - but each year fresh voices join in, and somehow it feels different.

The climb is tough. Feet blister, backs ache, children complain, and elders pause on every bend. Still, no one wants to give up. Every step forward feels lighter than the one before, like faith is pushing people along.

Navratri here is not about reaching the Bhawan quickly. It’s about the walk itself. A stranger passing you prasad. Someone offering a hand on a steep slope. Two people who have never met humming the same bhajan together.

Faith at Vaishno Devi is not only inside folded hands. It’s alive on the path - in the sharing, in the helping, in the quiet smiles that travel faster than the chants. And when pilgrims finally return home, that is what stays with them.

For The United Indian

Faith in Action

At The United Indian, we don’t see Navratri at Vaishno Devi as just another entry on the festival calendar. It feels bigger than that. Faith here doesn’t stay locked inside walls. It spills out on the path. People you’ve never met end up walking beside you, and somehow it feels like you’ve known them for years. Someone offers water, someone shares prasad, another just says “Jai Mata Di” with a smile - and suddenly you’re not climbing alone. For those nine days, Vaishno Devi isn’t just a shrine. It feels alive, like the hills themselves are breathing with the unity and devotion of everyone who came.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

1. Will pilgrims visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine?

An official of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board that elaborate arrangements have been made to facilitate the pilgrims, who are likely to visit the holy cave shrine during the nine day long festival.

2. How long is the walk from Katra?

Around 13 kilometers. Some walk fast, some slow, some even barefoot. A few take ponies. It’s tough, but the energy on the path, with people shouting “Jai Mata Di,” keeps you going.

3. What is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage?

Ask ten people and you’ll get ten different answers, but for millions of Hindus, the climb to Vaishno Devi sits right at the top. The cave shrine rests high up in the Trikuta hills, more than five thousand feet above sea level. During Navratri, the place comes alive - families, students, grandparents, even people flying in from abroad - all walking the same path to bow before the goddess.

4. What’s being done this year for pilgrims?

The Shrine Board has added extra security, medical camps, and more places to rest and eat. Volunteers are setting up langars too, so no one goes hungry on the way.

5. Does the festival help the locals?

Yes, a lot. Shops, hotels, and taxis stay busy. But it’s not only about money - people here feel proud to serve. Many even help for free, just as a form of seva.