New Delhi

In a first such move to connect religious shrines with finding solutions to reversing the impact of global warming and protecting the environment,  the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) would offer plants as 'prasad' (consecrated food) to devotees coming to the shrine.

For this, the SMVDSB is setting up a high-tech outlet at Katra, the base camp of the holy shrine.

Situated at Trikuta Hills in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Vaishno Devi is considered as most revered shrine, where on average around 10 million people pay their pay obeisance in a year.

Officials from the Shrine Board said the idea behind the initiative is to encourage people to plant more trees and save the planet Earth from climate change and global warming. The plant sapling also acts as a blessing of the Goddess and is treated as a live souvenir of the holy pilgrimage.

News Agency ANI posted a video clip of the Nursery on X:

#WATCH | J&K: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is going to offer plants as 'prasad' to devotees coming to the shrine. A high-tech outlet is planned at the Niharika Complex Katra, the base camp of the holy shrine. pic.twitter.com/JsU9CZzCDg

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2024

Viney Khajuria, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said that in the next couple of days, the Board is going to formally start offering plants as ‘Parshad’ to Vaishno Devi pilgrims visiting the shrine.

He informed a high-tech outlet is planned at the Nahirika complex at Katra, the base camp of the holy shrine, from where interesting devotees can take away the saplings as a blessing of Mata Rani.

Khajuria said that indigenous plants will be taken from a high-tech nursery set up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) at Kunia village in the Panthal area near Katra in Reasi. He said the nursery is rearing indigenous species of plants that are compatible with the local climatic conditions but also striving, progressively, for better transportation and transplantation.

Besides continuously improving facilities for the pilgrims, the board has been devoting attention to promoting the welfare of the people. He further informed that the board also has been ensuring conserving the environment.

“The board has also taken up large-scale plantations of varied indigenous species of plants, creepers, soil binders, and flowering plants in the shrine area,” he said.

People also expressed their joy and excitement regarding the new concept.

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A devotee said, “The saplings as a ‘gift’ during weddings, birthdays, and farewells are already in practice but sapling as ‘Parshad’ is something unique”.