However, against the past trends of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage during the months of January and February, this January and February have received record pilgrimage, breaking past records, official sources informed.

February remains amongst the lowest months in respect to the high pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine, located in the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district.

Sources said that 1,46,390 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the famous Vaishno Devi shrine from February 1 to 16. However, during the corresponding period in 2008, only 1,13,771 pilgrims had darshan at the shrine.

As compared to the pilgrimage figure during the corresponding period last year, 32,619 more pilgrims paid obeisance, during this period of February, this year, sources said.

However, the pilgrimage in the month of February has been on dull note as compared with the pilgrimage to the shrine during the month of January, sources stated.

In January, this year, 4,14,460 pilgrims had darshan at the Vaishno Devi shrine, sources informed adding that during the corresponding month last year, 3,40,303 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine.

This shows that 74,157 pilgrims more had darshan at the shrine in January, this year, as compared to the January, last year.

Although, as compared with figures, the pilgrimage in February remains less than January, which is also because of the Vaishno Devi shrine getting huge pilgrimage on the occasion of the New Year, however, keeping in view past records of the pilgrimage during these two months, the pilgrimage this year has increased significantly, sources pointed out.

Sources stated that another factor for the less pilgrimage during the month of February is approaching board exams during February end and early March.