The "Aarti" of the Maa Vaishno Devi at Holy Cave is performed Twice a Day

• Morning just before the Sunrise
• Evening immediately after the Sunset

The whole ceremony of "Aarti" is a very Sacred and Dedicated to Maa Durga. The Pujaris of the Holy Cave perform "Aarti'" before the holy deity first inside the sanctum- sanctorum and than outside the cave.

Before the start of "Aarti", Pujaris perform "Aatam Pujan/Shuddhee" (Self-Purification). After that the Goddess is bathed in

• Water
• Milk
• Ghee (Clarified butter)
• Honey
• Sugar

After that the Goddess is dressed-up in a Saree, Chola and Chuni and Ornaments.

The entire process takes place with the enchantment of various Shlokas and Mantras.  After that Tilak is placed on the forehead of the deity and Navied (Prasad) is offered.

The Pujaris of Holy Cave perform the Puja of Gods and Goddesses, as it is a believed that during the Aarti time, all the Gods and Goddesses are present inside the sanctum Sanctorum. The Jyoti (divine lamp) is lightened and then the 'Aarti' of the goddess is performed. After the whole procedure, the thaal which contains the lamp and various other items used in the 'Aarti', is brought outside the mouth of the holy cave, where 'Aarti' of the goddess is performed in the presence of yatris. The yatris who remain seated outside the holy cave during the time when the Aarti is performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, keep listening to the Pravachans of head Pandit. After the Aarti outside the holy cave is over, the pujari distributes Prasadam and the charanamrit ( the holy water) to the devotees.

This whole procedure of "Aarti" takes Two Hours. In this duration, the Darshans for Yatris are delayed. The maintenance  and renovation works required inside the Holy Cave are performed during this time only.

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