The story so far
The nine-day Navratra Festival runs from 11 to 19 October in Katra. Our weekend checklist from Jammu covers the plan; this piece covers what happened on day one.
What's new
- Crowds: over 47,000 devotees visited the Vaishno Devi shrine on Sunday, the first day of Navratri, despite bad weather. That is shrine footfall, not festival attendance.
- RFID card: a valid RFID card is now mandatory for every pilgrim undertaking the yatra, and extra handheld scanners have been placed at key points. If you are travelling, carry it before you start the climb.
- Helicopters: services were suspended all day because of adverse weather; pilgrims continued on foot.
- Ponies: pony riders and pony wallahs were verified, and only registered providers may operate on the route.
- Crowd control: regular announcements regulated movement, communication systems were strengthened and rescue equipment kept on standby.
- Katra town: sanitation, drinking water and lighting of dark spots were reinforced.
The festival programme
The festival, inaugurated at Yog Ashram Ground, is organised by the Directorate of Tourism Jammu, the Divisional Administration Jammu and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The programme includes a Shobha Yatra, Prabhat Pheris, the All India Devotional Song Competition, cultural programmes, Bhagwat Katha, wrestling competitions and a Kavi Sammelan. Specific timings were not given in the reports we read.
What to do if you are going
Check the weather before you leave Jammu, carry your RFID card, and note that helicopter services were suspended on Sunday for weather, so check their status before you travel. The festival runs through 19 October.
Sources: The Tribune, Navratri festivities begin at Vaishno Devi shrine (12 October 2026); Greater Kashmir, Navratra Festival 2026 at Katra.
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