PTI
 
Jammu, Sep 3: With the hope of not returning "empty -handed", Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt along with his girlfriend Manyata and others braved rough weather to reach the Vaishnodevi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir late Sunday.

They will seek the goddess' blessings for "everyone" including fellow beleaguered actor Salman Khan at the shrine early Monday.

Dutt, Manyata and some friends left on foot from the base camp town of Katra in Udhampur district, took the old route and reached Bhawan at around 11.30 pm IST.

"They straight away went to Kalika Bhawan where they will stay overnight. After 3 to 4 hours rest, he will offer prayers and pay homage to the three Pindies of Mata Vaishnodevi early in the morning," Bhawan SHO Harbans Lal told PTI over the phone.

The actor, currently out on bail granted by the Supreme Court in connection with his six-year jail term for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, braved rain and some incidents of stones falling down the hillside.

"Whoever comes to the shrine does not return empty- handed. Everyone knows this. I am sure that Mata will take care of her children," Dutt told reporters earlier.

The new route to cave shrine has been closed to pilgrims due to minor landslides triggered by rains, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board additional chief executive officer Puneet Kumar said from Katra.

"The yatra has not been closed. It is going on smoothly via the old route. There is no need for panic," he said and confirmed that Dutt and his friends had reached Bhawan.