Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma today informed that Shri Machail Mata Yatra 2026 is officially scheduled from July 25 to September 8. However, inclement weather has stopped the Yatra for three days and it stands deferred till July 27. The district administration will review the weather situation thereafter and the Yatra will commence only after conditions turn favourable.
The Deputy Commissioner said the Holy Kapaat of the sacred shrine of Shri Machail Mata Ji will reopen on the 25th as per the rituals, with the priests and locals at Machail performing the traditional rituals. Thereafter, keeping in view the prevailing weather, the pilgrimage for devotees will start from July 28, subject to an assessment of favourable weather conditions.
The new SOPs introduced this year are aimed primarily at the safety and convenience of pilgrims. Registration has been made 100 per cent online and mandatory and an RFID system has been introduced.
Under the RFID system, the movement of every pilgrim will be tracked. The necessary infrastructure has already been installed to monitor pilgrim movement and ensure that vulnerable areas, including steep gorges and landslide-prone stretches, do not witness overcrowding.
The DC informed that the Yatra starts from Jammu. The total distance from Jammu to Machail Bhawan is 304.7 km, of which only 1.7 km has to be covered on foot, while the remaining stretch is motorable. At the last motorable point, Darshini Deodi, drinking water, power, sanitation, toilets and parking have been arranged. A small bus stand with a holding capacity of 50-70 vehicles has been established at Darshini Deodi, Machail, which will carry pilgrims from Gulabgarh.
Pilgrims will be allowed to travel only between 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM. A daily cap of 8,000 pilgrims has also been fixed and once the limit is reached, the remaining registered pilgrims will be allowed to proceed the following day.
The Deputy Commissioner urged all pilgrims to complete their registration before commencing the Yatra. Online registration can be completed through the official portal http://www.srimachalmatayatra.com, which carries step-by-step guidelines. Pilgrims are required to register their mobile number, verify it through OTP and add the details of accompanying family members.
Two RFID Yatra Registration Counters have been established at the Base Camp, Gauri Shankar Temple, Sarkoot, Kishtwar and six to seven counters set up at Gulabgarh according to the expected influx of pilgrims. The DC clarified that no pilgrim will be allowed to proceed beyond the first security check at Deondi Morh without an RFID card.RFID has been made mandatory for all pilgrims, including children, as it will enable authorities to monitor crowd movement, identify gatherings at vulnerable locations and ensure timely guidance and assistance. Police personnel have been deployed at vulnerable locations to generate awareness among pilgrims against halting there.
SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh said Police, NDRF, SDRF, Army and Special Police pickets have been deployed along the Yatra route to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.
The SSP appealed to devotees to read and strictly follow the SOPs, observe the prescribed travel timings and cooperate with the administration.
ADC Kishtwar Pawan Kotwal was also present on the occasion.