Jammu Desk, Delhi Magazine, June 3, 2024 — In a significant move to uphold the sanctity of Katra, home to the revered Vaishno Devi temple, the Jammu administration has banned the sale, possession, and consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the area. Officials announced this decision, aimed at enhancing the religious atmosphere for millions of pilgrims who visit annually.
Reasi District Magistrate Vishesh Mahajan, who launched the initiative on World No Tobacco Day, emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the pilgrimage site. “Under Section 144, we have banned the storage, sale, and consumption of cigarettes, gutkha, and other forms of tobacco in the area from Numai and Panthal check posts to Tara Court and up to Bhawan,” Mahajan stated during a media briefing on Saturday.
This tobacco ban is an extension of the existing prohibitions on the sale and consumption of meat and alcohol in Katra and its surrounding regions. “The move aims to keep the Katra base camp, the yatra route, and the entire area tobacco-free,” Mahajan added, noting the high volume of pilgrims—approximately 30,000 to 40,000 daily—who undertake the journey to the temple.
By implementing this comprehensive ban, the administration seeks to ensure a clean and sacred environment for all visitors, reinforcing the spiritual essence of one of India’s most visited religious sites.