Record Numbers Visited Vaishno Devi Shrine in 2003

[Guest guest]

Members may find it worth noting (and even gratifying to learn)

that Hindus visit Devi shrines in these numbers -- and that too

through terrorist infested areas. From "The Hindu" newspaper of

Chennai:

 

NUMBER OF PILGRIMS TO VAISHNO DEVI AT NEW HIGH

 

Jammu - The number of pilgrims to visit Vaishno Devi shrine in 2003

surpassed all previous records and touched an all time high of

52,19,752.

 

The pilgrims to the holy shrine has increased from 1.3 million in

1986 to over 5.2 million in the current year. In 2000, 52,17,715

devotees had visited the shrine.

 

Rohit Kansal, Chief Executive Officer of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

Board felicitated Hira Lal Parekh of Bangalore, who had the rare

privilege of becoming the record breaking pilgrim to pay obeisance

at the shrine.

 

Over 7,000 non-resident Indians also offered prayers at the shrine.

 

URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/00224123010.htm