The Shree
Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has entered into an agreement with the Jammu
and Kashmir Postal Services for delivery of ‘prasad’ to devotees’ homes
across the country, reported PTI.

The shrine
reopened on August 16 after the coronavirus pandemic had forced it to stay shut
for over five months.

“Shri Mata
Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) entered into an agreement with the
department of posts for the speedy delivery of prasad to devotees across the
country,” a statement from the board read.

Ramesh
Kumar, chief executive officer of the shrine board and Gaurav Srivastava, Director (Headquarters) of Jammu and Kashmir Postal Services, signed the agreement
at the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra on Saturday.

“For
facilitating devotees, especially during the prevailing circumstances, the
board introduced the facility of delivery of prasad at their places.”

“This
initiative of the board will greatly help those devotees avail the prasad who
could not undertake the yatra due to circumstances created by the pandemic,” the
statement said.

Prasad can
be ordered through an official website of the shrine board or through a
dedicated mobile number. Three categories of prasad have been made
available on a no profit, no loss basis.

Earlier,
the shrine board had offered a service for devotees to perform a ‘hawan’ or ‘puja’,
in absentia, at the Yagya Shala at Bhawan.

The board said
that the yatra to the shrine, atop Trikuta hills, was slowly gathering pace,
adding that supplementary services like helicopters, battery operated vehicles
and passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon have been made available for
pilgrims.