The natural cave at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district was opened for devotees for Makar Sankranti celebrations.

The natural cave within the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine is usually opened during winter months when the rush of devotees is less.

Many devotees wait eagerly for the day to have ‘darshan’ at the shrine through the natural cave which remains closed for most part of the year owing to safety issues.

More than 1.50 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine since the beginning of the New Year.