GUWAHATI: A video showing a Rudrabhishek ritual being performed inside a commercially booked Indian Railways saloon coach has gone viral, prompting questions on social media over whether religious ceremonies are permitted on trains.
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The clip shows a priest performing the abhishek while devotees participate in the ritual. As the video gained traction online, Northern Railway issued a clarification, stating that the ceremony took place inside a saloon coach booked through the IRCTC under a commercial booking.
Responding to the controversy in a post on X, Northern Railway said the saloon coach was booked on July 8 after the party made an advance payment of ₹3,08,580.
According to the railway zone, the coach was scheduled to be attached to Train No. 12926 Paschim Express for a one-way journey from New Delhi (NDLS) to Mumbai (BDTS) on July 10. It added that the notification for the commercial run of the saloon coach was issued on the same day, subject to operational feasibility.
Clarifying the viral video, Northern Railway said the priest seen performing the abhishek was inside the booked saloon coach and not in a regular passenger coach.
"The primary roles and responsibilities of ensuring punctuality, safety, security and convenience of passengers lie with Railways without any compromise. In this incident, none got injured," the railway zone said.
The clarification comes days after another railway-related incident went viral, in which a First AC coupe of the Nandigram Express was decorated with balloons, flowers and rose petals. Following the incident, South Central Railway suspended a staff member and ordered a departmental inquiry, stating that an online decorator had allegedly entered the train without authorisation. The decorator was also booked under provisions of the Railway Act for unauthorised entry, travelling without a ticket and trespassing.