Author: Vikram Choudhary
Publication: NDTV
Date: October 14, 2004
URL: http://t2ndtv.m7z.net:80/morenews/showmorestory.asp?id=61989&frmsrch=1&txtsrch=Vaishno+Devi+pilgrimage+made+easy+
The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board
has come out with a series of new measures that will go down well with
the devotees. The measures are timed for the Navratras, which start today.
Now, pilgrims coming to Vaishno
Devi can get yatra registration slips through the Internet.
This will not only save time, pilgrims
can also obtain yatra registration slips in advance and choose a date they
wish to travel on.
"It will be good for everyone, especially
those coming from far off places. They know nothing about registration.
Now with online facilities, it will be convenient for everyone," said Geetanjali,
a pilgrim.
Innovative schemes
Besides online yatra registration,
the shrine board has come up with more innovative ideas like a scheme for
delivery of prasad through speed-post.
Under this scheme, the prasad is
dispatched to the devotee whenever he books Poojan, which costs Rs 1,100.
The shrine board is also launching
donation cards, which will enable a devotee to avail various privileges
and facilities like 30 days of free accommodation in a calendar year.
"We want to use modern technology
to the fullest to boost the yatra," said Lt Gen S K Sinha (Retd), Governor,
Jammu & Kashmir.
Every year, more than 54 lakh yatris
visit the Vaishno Devi shrine. And now with the shrine board going hi-tech,
this would ensure a more comfortable pilgrimage.
