“In Jammu & Kashmir, Hundreds of devotees offered morning “Arti” at the world famous shrine of Shri Mata Devi as the nine-day festival of “Chaitra Navratri” began with religious fervor on Monday.

Early Monday morning a Havan Yag has been started at Holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi which will last for next nine days.

Nested in Trikuta hills in the Himalayas, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine present a festive look as thousands of devotees are pouring in from across the country to undertake a pilgrimage to the shrine during the Navratra festival.

To seek the blessings of the Divine Mother, over 10 million pilgrims visit the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi every year.

Meanwhile at Base Camp Katra, temporary stalls are set up by the road side, near the temples selling traditional goods for the festival such as diyas, coconuts and dupattas, wrist-bands and special garlands made of marigold and other flowers with agarbatti sticks.”