Devotees offer prayers at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on 1st day of Navratri KATRA: Decked up with attractive and colourful lights, Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra on Tuesday welcomed pilgrims on the first day of ‘Navratri’ with all COVID-19 protocols in place. Every year thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit Mata Vaishno Devi in Navratras, however this year due to the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims. The devotees coming from different states for ‘darshan’ have to present their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report upon entering the temple.