My Visit to VaishnoDevi, Katra, Jammu

We went to Vaishno Devi on Oct 15th. It was exciting trip for all of us as we all had gone to Vaisho Devi by Helicopter for the first time. I was accompanied with my two growing kids, wife and her parents. My mother could not accompany us due to health issue.
During this short journey of 2 days, for the first time I observed some of the safety issues, which I think authorities, should take care off. After all it’s a human life and can not be sacrificed due to negligence of others. I am listing following safety hazards which I think can cause fatal accidents:
1. The helicopter rotor fan was not stopped. The passengers were forced to board and de-board the copter while the fan was on a full speed. The gust of winds can throw a light weight man or kids away from the ground.
2. I had taken the similar ride in USA, those people were very much concerned about our safety and allowed us to board the copter only when it was completely halted. Can we expect a similar kind of boarding procedures back home? Are we waiting for a disaster to happen?
3. Bhawan complexes at Vaishno Devi are not handicapped / senior citizens friendly. If you have booked the room there, you are messed up. After about 12 km of walk on steep hill, you are forced to climb infinite stairs. There are no lifts. Simple provision of lift will help pilgrimage a lot. If you wish to enjoy facilities of lockers / cloak room or hotels, be ready to climb infinite stairs and cramp your muscles. Even administrative offices are situated on top of the hill.
4. There were lot of monkeys and lagoons on the way, which look for food and snatch the bags etc from the pilgrimage. There is no security from them.
5. I preferred to return to Jammu from Katra on bus instead of taking taxi. The bus had capacity of 20-22 people and the driver had created additional sitting space in between the aisles and on the bonnet. This has locked us and could not move here and there, not even unable to move legs and shoulder, as passengers were tightly gripped hand rest etc. This was the government bus and I am sure driver has not paid the fare collected from additional passengers to JK govt. I think it is also difficult to control the overcrowded bus in accidental zones. In case of accident it is also difficult to approach emergency gate (?).
However, my overall experience with Darshan was quite satisfactory. I had a good darshan of Devi. After first darshan we became greedy and had darshan one more time. Knowing our greed, Maa Vaishno Devi got little angry and punished us by keeping us waiting for about an hour and unnecessary walking up and down the stairs.
Since we had gone by Helicopter, we were not tired. My younger daughter explained that this time she is not able to relate the journey with religious sentiments as she has not done climbing on the hill and it is more like a picnic. It gave me another dimension to think are we required to undergo physical torture to keep our Maa happy? I think Maa needs only dedication and shradhha and nothing else. Either we walk or fly, do not matter.
On lighter side, my younger daughter had asked one question, which I could not answer to her satisfaction. Her Question is, “ How it was discovered that there lives a Goddess in this cave”?
I could answer that it’s a matter of faith. It is our belief that Maa Vaisho resides there. Also I explained the benefits of this pilgrim to local residents. They have got jobs and economic development. Have this faith not there, nobody would come to visit this place except those who love trekking and hiking. The FAITH on Maa, has brought the common man to this place, which is itself a blessing to All.
!! JAI MATA KI !!