MALU SHARMA
In a first such move, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has decided to offer plant saplings as ‘Prasad’ to the devotees visiting Shri Vasihno Devi temple and for this SMVDSB has set up a high-tech outlet at Katra, the base camp of the holy shrine.
Situated at Trikuta Hills Vaishno Devi Shrine is considered as most revered shrine, where on an average around 10 million people pay their obeisance in a year.
Officials from the Shrine Board shared the idea behind the initiative is to encourage people to plant more and more trees and save planet Earth from climate change and global warming.
These plant sapling in the form of Prasad will also acts as a blessing of the Goddess and is a keepsake of the holy pilgrimage.
Viney Khajuria, Assistant Conservator of Forest, SMVDSB said, “In the next couple of days, the Board is going to formally start offering plants as ‘Parshad’ to Vaishno Devi pilgrims visiting the shrine and for this a high-tech outlet is planned at the Nahirika complex at Katra, from where devotees can take away the saplings as a blessing of Maa Vaishno Devi.”
Khajuria shared that a high-tech nursery has been set up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at village Kunia in Panthal area near Katra in Reasi. The nursery is rearing such indigenous species of plants which are compatible with the local climatic conditions and are good for transportation and transplantation.
Devotees also expressed their joy and excitement regarding the new concept. Ragini Sharma, a devotee said, “The saplings as ‘Parshad’ is something unique” and we would love to take the blessing of Mata Rani in the form of a plant to our homes.”