India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
If you have money, you can almost do anything in India. Without having any civic sense for the usage of public property. Recently, a video went viral where a couple booked a train compartment and decorated it to celebrate their honeymoon.
And now, a whole coach was booked to perform puja in a moving train.
Northern Railways clarified that a puja was performed in a saloon car, commercially booked via IRCTC for Rs 30,8580, attached to the Paschim Express from New Delhi to Mumbai on 10.07.2026, following public criticism over the usage.
In a viral video, some priests can be seen sitting on the floor in a train performing rituals. Several devotees were sitting around them dressed in white ethnics.
Soon the video went viral, people started asking questions on social media over performing rituals in a train instead of a temple or homes.
Criticism was not just limited to usage of Indian Railways property but also the deadline and shortage of time people have when it comes to ‘chanting God’s name.’
Hello @AshwiniVaishnaw, was this approved by @RailMinIndia? If so, What is the procedure? pic.twitter.com/9VUJP53lJQ
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 12, 2026
Netizens asked is it a good idea to perform religious ceremonies inside a moving train?
Taking cognizance of criticism, Northern Railways said, ” the rituals were held inside a privately booked saloon car and that the coach had been allotted through a commercial booking made with IRCTC.”
“The party made an advance payment of Rs 30,8,580 as a commercial booking. The Saloon Car was to be attached in Train No. 12926 Paschim Express on one-way journey from New Delhi (NDLS) to Mumbai (BDTS) on 10.07.2026.”
Railways added that it was not booked by a private party through IRCTC and rather than in a regular passenger coach.
For the understanding of a common man, a saloon car on a train is a private, luxurious rail carriage that caters to VIPs and is loaded with air-conditioned bedrooms, a kitchenette, a living and dining room, and attached washrooms and amenities.
