Bhawan...
Obtaining a Group Number
Yatries would recollect that prior to the commencement
of their yatra, they had obtained a Yatra Registration Slip
or Parchi from the Yatra Registration Counter (YRC) located
at Katra. This slip had been checked and stamped at Banganga.
The most important role of the slip is at Bhawan, where
the slip is revalidated and used to issue a group number.
The group number is allotted at the Yatra Slip Counter located
on the left hand side immediately after the luggage check
post. This group number would then determine the sequence
in which the yatries would have the Holy Darshan and the
time for which they would have to wait before obtaining
Darshans.
As
has already been mentioned, the Holy Darshans in the Cave
of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji are in the form of natural
rock formation called Pindies with no idols or statues.
Due to the narrowness of the Cave and restriction on the
number of people being able to pray inside the Cave at any
given point of time, Darshans are regulated through a continuously
moving queue. Yatries are grouped into batches of 200 each
depending on their time of arrival at the grouping counter
at Bhawan and each group is called one by one to enter into
the Darshan Queue.
The group which is having Darshans at any given point of
time is called the current group and the number of groups
in between the current group and the group number allotted
to the yatri will determine the time for which the yatries
shall have to wait before having Darshans. On ordinary days
or days of moderate rush, yatries can have Darshans almost
immediately after reaching Bhawan. However, on days of heavy
rush, especially during the peak months, one may have to
wake for 9-10 hours before one’s group number is called
out for Darshans.
In any case, irrespective of the rush, one must obtain
the group number immediately after reaching Bhawan and only
then proceed to carry out any other task.
