Shri Mata Vaishno Devi: Aarti & Puja Schedule

• Morning Attka Aarti at the Bhawan. Darshan is paused; devotees who registered report to the Durga Bhawan reception about 30 minutes before it begins.Approx 6:20 AM to 8:00 AM
• Evening Attka Aarti at the Bhawan, timed to sunset. In winter it shifts earlier, to roughly 6:20 PM to 8:00 PM.Approx 7:20 PM to 8:30 PM (summer)
• Inside the cave the priests perform Aatam Pujan (self-purification) and Panchamrit puja, bathing the pindis, then dressing the Goddess in chola, chunri and ornaments before the aarti is offered outside for the waiting yatris.During each aarti

The heart of the daily ritual is the Attka Aarti, performed twice inside the Bhawan, once in the early morning and once around sunset. Before the aarti proper, the priests carry out Aatam Pujan, a rite of self-purification, followed by Panchamrit puja in which the three pindis are bathed. The Goddess is then dressed in chola and chunri and adorned with ornaments, after which the aarti flame is offered, first within the cave and then outside for the assembled yatris.

Morning aarti falls in roughly the 6:20 AM to 8:00 AM window and the evening aarti near 7:20 PM to 8:30 PM in summer, shifting earlier in winter as sunset moves. Because these times follow the sun rather than a fixed clock, they drift by a few minutes through the year, so it is worth confirming the exact timing at the Katra counter or the Durga Bhawan reception on the day.

Attending the aarti from close quarters is not automatic. The Shrine Board allots limited places, and interested devotees are asked to report at the Durga Bhawan reception about half an hour before it begins. Throughout the aarti the general darshan queue is suspended, which is the single most important scheduling fact for planning your climb: time your arrival at the cave to fall outside these two windows unless you specifically intend to sit for the aarti.

Compiled from public sources including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (official) · Shrine Board: How to Reach Katra · Wikimedia Commons: Snowfall in Vaishno Devi (photo) · Wikipedia: New Delhi to SVDK Katra Vande Bharat Express. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.